83 PRESCRIPTION WRITING 



For example: 



Sodii sulphatis, uncias duas. 



Translated : 



Take 



Of sodium sulphate, ounces two. 



The Latin noun uncia (ounce) is in the accusative case, and the ad- 

 jective duas is also in the accusative, agreeing with uncias. But to write 

 out prescriptions in full, as above, is not customary and would be consid- 

 ered pedantic. 



Again, the Latin names of the ingredients should be written in the 

 accusative case when no noun for weight or measure is employed. For 

 example : 



Pilulas catharticas compositas duas. 



Translated literally: 

 Take 



Pills cathartic compound, two. Or, take two compound cathartic 

 pills. 



Pilulas (pills) is in the accusative object of the verb recipe. Cathar- 

 ticas, compositas, and duas are adjectives, agreeing with pilulas. We 

 can only write this prescription correctly, without using the accusative 

 case, by abbreviating it as follows : 



:? 



Pil. Cath. Co. ii. 



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