EXAMPLES OF PRESCRIPTIONS 93 



In writing a prescription for powderSj we may either write for one 

 powder" and direct the druggist to dispense several more like it, or write 

 for the whole amount of the ingredients and order them divided into the 

 required number of doses or papers. In the first case we will write for a 

 powder containing one dose of each of the drugs. 



For example, we write a ptescription for calomel and santonin, with 

 sugar of milk as an excipient, since the dose of the drug is inconveniently 

 small. This powder is suitable for a medium-sized dog. 



The Latin for calomel, or the lower chloride of mercury, is hydrargy- 

 rum, genitive hydrargyr-i, of mercury; chloridum, genitive chlorid-i, of 

 chloride; mite, genitive mit-is, of lower; dose; gr.i. The Latin for san- 

 tonin is santoninum, genitive santonin-i, of santonin ; dose, gr.i. The Latin 

 for sugar of milk is saccharum, genitive sacchar-i, of sugar; lac, genitive 

 lac-tis, of milk; amount gr.x. The prescription will read: 



Hydrargyri chloridi mitis. 



Santonini aa gr.i. 



Sacchari lactis gr.x. 



Misce at fiat pulvis 1 ; dispense pulveres tales vi. 



Translated: Mix, and let there be made powder 1; dispense pow- 

 ders such vi. 



(Abbreviated) M. et f. pulv. 1; dispense pulv. tales vi. 



' Sig. One powder every half hour until 4 doses are given. 



John SurrH, D. V. M. 



In the second case, if we write a prescription for six powders, we 

 multiply the dose of the ingredients in each powder by 6, and then order 

 the prescription to be dispensed in six papers. 



Hydrarg. chlor. mit. 



Santonin. aa gr.vi. 



Sacch. lact 3i. 



Misce et divide in chartulas numero vi. 



Translated: Mix and divide into papers in number vi. 



Sig. (as before). 



To write the above in the metric system. The dose of calomel or of 

 santonin is gr.i=:.06 Gm. .06X6=.36 Gm., or gr.vi. The amount of 

 sugar of milk used as an excipient in each powder is gr.x. .06X10=.6 

 Gm., the amount prescribed in each powder. The amount necessary for 

 six powders is 6X^^3.6 Gm., approximately 4 Gm. 



]^ 



Solids in Gm. Liquids in mils. 

 Hydrarg. chlor. mit. ( 



Santonin aa' |36 



Sach. lact 4| 



M. et div. ch't. in No. vi. 

 Sig. (as before). 



We will write a prescription for a horse, in the form of a powder, 

 containing dried iron sulphate, nux vomica and sodium bicarbonate. The 



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