It must be plain to every one that children do not require such
powerful medicine as adults or old people, and therefore it is
desirable to have some fixed method of determining or regulating the
administration of doses of medicine. Now let it be supposed that the
dose for a full-grown person is one drachm, then the following
proportions will be suitable for the various ages given; keeping in
view other circumstances, such as sex, temperament, habits, climate,
state of _general health_, and idiosyncrasy.
Age. Proportion. Proportionate Dose.
7 weeks one-fifteenth or grains 4
7 months one-twelfth or grains 5
Under 2 years one-eighth or grains 7-1/2
" 3 " one-sixth or grains 10
" 4 " one-fourth or grains 15
" 7 " one-third or scruple 1
" 14 " one-half or drachm 1/2
" 20 " two-fifths or scruples 2
Above21 " the full dose or drachm 1
" 65 " The inverse gradation