code: public int getScale(int column) throws SQLException {
  
          Type type = resultMetaData.columnTypes[--column];
  
          return type.scale;
      }
docs: <!-- start generic documentation -->
  Gets the designated column's number of digits to right of the decimal point.
  0 is returned for data types where the scale is not applicable.
  <!-- end generic documentation -->
  
  <!-- start Release-specific documentation -->
  <div class="ReleaseSpecificDocumentation">
  <h3>HSQLDB-Specific Information:</h3> <p>
  
  Starting with 1.8.0, HSQLDB reports the declared
  scale for table columns.<p>
  
  From 1.9.0, HSQLDB, reports the correct scale for
  computed columns according to the SQL Standard.<p>
  
  <pre>
  sql.enforce_strict_size
  </pre>
  For datetime and interval types such as Timestamp or Time, the
  fractional second precision is reported.
  </div>
  <!-- end release-specific documentation -->
  
  @param column the first column is 1, the second is 2, ...
  @return scale
  @exception SQLException if a database access error occurs