PRESCRIPTION WRITING 99 



(Abbreviated) M. et f . pil. 1. Dispense pil. tales No. xxx. 

 Signa or S. (as before.) 



Translated : (Misce) mix (et) and (fiat) let there be made 

 (pilula) pill 1 ; (dispense) dispense (pilulas) pills, (tales) such, 

 (numero) in number, xxx. Abbreviated as above, (Signa) S. 

 = Label. 



The same prescription may be written in the metric 

 system : Gr.l = .06 gm. Fractions of a grain are converted 

 into grams, therefore, by dividing .06 by the denominator of 

 the fraction and multiplying the result by the numerator. 

 The dose of aloes (gr.J) is transformed into grams then, as 

 follows : 



2) .06(.03 X 1 = .03 

 .06 



00 



Or. jl-g- is converted into grams thus : 



120) .0600 ( .0005 X 1 = .0005 gm. 

 600 



V^ 



Solids in Gm. Liquids in Co. 



Ferri reducti 12 



Aloes socotrinae 03 



Strychninae sulpliatis 0005 



M. et f . pil. 1 ; dispense pil. tales No. xxx. 

 Sig. (as before). 



This prescription may be abbreviated in this manner : 



Ferri reducti. 



Aloes soc 



Strych. sulph. 

 M., etc. 



12 

 03 

 0005 



Prescriptions for balls are calculated and written in 

 every respect like those for pills. We may write the above 

 prescription in another form, in case we prescribe a pill or 

 ball mass to be made, or an official mass to be divided into 

 pills. Suppose we write a prescription for a physic mass, 

 suitable for horses. We conclude to write for a quantity 

 of the mass sufficient to make eight balls. Each ball con- 



