given in English and indeed it is well to do so if they are at all unusual. 

 Directions to the patient should as a rule be written in English, but there 

 are a few simple directions which have been so much used that the abbrevi- 

 ations of their Latin translation are very commonly employed. The stu- 

 dent will often find in older books prescriptions with Latin directions. 

 For these reasons he should make himself familiar with the phrases given 

 in the vocabulary. 



In writing a prescription always write legibly. Do not endanger the 

 success of your treatment or possibly even the patient's life by careless, 

 illegible hand-writing. Whenever large quantities of any powerful drug 

 are ordered, and especially if they surpass the pharmacopoeial dose, the 

 quantities should be not written in numerals but should also be written out 

 in full in words. 



The following is a typical prescription: 



Vlufc- 



V\. 



Superscription ^ 



Inscription 



Subscription 

 Signature 



The words to the left, inscription, superscription, subscription and 

 signature, are the names applied to those parts of the prescription opposite 

 which they are set. The signature includes the directions to the patient. 

 The other three parts are for the pharmacist. The subscription includes the 

 compounding directions to the pharmacist. 



The following is a transcription in unabbreviated Latin of the above 

 prescription with an interlinear translation. 

 For Arthur H. 



Recipe 



Take thou 



Potassii Acetatis ................................... unciam unam- 



Of Acetate of Potassium ............................. one dtadtm. 



Liquoris Ammonii Acetatis .............. drachmas tres cum semisse. 



Of Solution of Acetate of Ammonium ........ three and a half drachms. 



Spiritus Athens Nitrosi ........................... drachmas duas. 



Of Spirits of Nitrous Ether ........................... two drachms. 



Infusi Buchu .......... (quantum, sufficiat usque) ad uncias quattuor. 



Of Infusion of Buchu (a quantity sufficient) up to four ounces ......... 



116 



