margin of the lower half with a little water before slipping the upper part over the same. The best method of dispensing suppositories is undoubtedly in partitioned paper boxes (see Fig. 292), the

sides and bottom of which should be lined with tinfoil or paraffin paper, the patient always being directed to keep the box in a cool place; in the absence of partitioned boxes, an oblong powder-box may be used, the suppositories being placed between two pieces of sheet-wadding.

29

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE PRESCRIPTION.

ALTHOUGH the many and varied operations of the dispensingcounter have been treated in the preceding chapters, a short discussion of the prescription itself seems desirable for the purpose of rendering the general information more complete.

The word prescription (Latin præscriptio, from præ, before, and scribere, to write) is defined as meaning a written order or direction to the pharmacist or druggist for compounding and dispensing a medicine. A prescription consists of several parts, namely, the superscription, the inscription, the subscription, and the signature, to which is almost always added the name or initial of the physician ordering the medicine, and frequently also the name of the patient. The following prescription written out in full may serve as a type to illustrate the various parts :

The first three parts of a prescription are written, with rare exception, in the Latin language, because it is the language of science and not subject to change like modern languages. Free use is made of abbreviations, which are readily understood by pharmacists the world over. The superscription consists of a single character, R, the initial letter of the Latin word recipe, meaning take thou; in France the letter P is used, the initial letter of the word prenez. In olden times the character was usually placed at the head of prescriptions and formulas; this was the sign of Jupiter, the chief deity of the ancient Romans, and was probably intended as an invocation to the gods; a portion of this character is still used by some physicians in conjunction with the letter R, thus R, merely as an ornamentation and probably without any knowledge of its origin.

The inscription is the most important part of the prescription, since it contains the names and quantities of the ingredients of the medicine ordered. The names of the medicines are written in abbreviated form, and the quantities are always indicated by symbols, gr., 9, 5, 3, and Roman numerals, except in the case of metric pre

scriptions. In the latter case the quantities are always designated by Arabic numerals, properly divided by the decimal point, and frequently followed by the signs Gm. or Cc.; in continental Europe the signs Gm. and Ce. are rarely employed, because Gm. is always understood, all substances, liquid as well as solid, being dispensed by weight. The inscription may be conveniently subdivided into several parts according to the importance of the several ingredients: thus, the basis or chief active agent; the adjuvant or agent second in importance, and intended to aid the basis; the corrective, intended to modify the action of the preceding agents; lastly, the vehicle or diluent, intended to provide a convenient and acceptable form of administration. It must not be supposed, however, that every inscription consists of four subdivisions, for sometimes only the basis and vehicle, or even the basis alone, may be prescribed.

The subscription is intended to give directions to the compounder as to the manner in which the medicine is to be dispensed, whether in divided doses or as a whole. These directions are more or less incomplete, consisting sometimes of a single letter, as M. for misce, F. for fiat; or S. for solve, or a combination of abbreviations, as Ft. mist. for fiat mistura, Ft. pule. for fiat pulvis, Ft. sol. for fiat solutio, etc. Frequently the subscription is so incomplete as to be without meaning unless the missing portion is mentally supplied, as, for instance, Ft. chart. , so often written when the physician desires the medicine to be divided into 10 powders; literally translated, this subscription would read, 10 papers may be made (fiant chartæ decem). The missing portion to be supplied may be p. et div. in, and if added to the above abbreviation causes the same to read, fiat pulvis et divide in chartas x, or let a powder be made and divide into 10 papers. In order to be able to read physicians' prescriptions intelligently and to write the abbreviated names and terms out in full when desired, it is necessary to be familiar with the numerous Latin titles of medicines and the many words used in the subscription. For convenience of study and reference, a table of abbreviations likely to occur in prescriptions is given on page 457.

The signature, or directions as to how the medicine is to be taken, is always written in English in this country, while in Great Britain the Latin language is still occasionally used. It is important that the signature be written in a clear, legible hand, so that neither dispenser nor patient be left in doubt as to the dose intended, and it is very unfortunate that some physicians will persist in giving verbal directions to their patients and marking their prescriptions simply use as directed, which may lead to much confusion.

The following prescriptions are given for the purpose of acquainting the student with the use of various abbreviations common in prescription-writing, and which, by a careful comparison of the abbreviated and unabbreviated forms and subsequent reference to the translation, will enable him to become familiar with this part of the work of the dispensing-counter.

Pulveris Opii
Camphora

grana quinque. grana decem.

Take

Of Powder of Opium