94 "^ PRESCRIPTION WRITING 



Latin for iron sulphate (dried) is ferrum, genitive ferr-i, of iron; sulphas, 

 genitive sulphat-is, of sulphate; exsiccatus, genitive exsiccat-i, of dried; 

 dose, 5i. The Latin for nux vomica is nux, genitive nuc-is, of nux ; vom- 

 ica, genitive vomic-cs, of vomica; dose, 3i. The Latin of sodium bicarbo- 

 nate is sodium, genitive, sodi-i, of sodium; hicarhonas, genitive bicarbo- 

 nat-is, of bicarbonate. We will order a sufficient quantity of the ingredi- 

 ents to make thirty powders. The dose of iron and nux vomica is 

 3i.X30=§iii., 3vi. The dose of sodium bicarbonate is5ii.X30=Sviiss. 



Ferri sulphatls exsiccati. 



Pulveris nucis vomicae aa Siii.j 3vi. 



Sodii blcarbonatis gviiss. 



Misce at divide in chartulas xxx. 

 Translated: Mix and divide into papers xxx. 

 (Abbreviated) M. et div. in chart, xxx. 



Sig. Give one powder three times daily on the food. 



John Smith, D. V. M. 



In order to avoid the expense of having powders divided into papers, 

 we may frequently direct one dose to be weighed by the druggist, and a 

 measure to be furnished holding the quantity. 



Ferr. sulph. exsicc. 



Pulv. nuc. vom aa oiii-> 5vi. 



Sodii bicarb 2251 



Misce et fiat pulvis. 

 Translated: Mix and let there be made a powder. 

 (Abbreviated) M. et f. pulv. (Furnish measure holding §38.) 



Sig. Give measureful on food three times daily. 



John Smith, D. V. M. 



To transform this prescription into terms of the metric system: 

 §i;!=30 Gm.; 3i.^4 Gm. Hence §iii., 3vi.i=l 14 Gm.;§viiss.i^225 Gm. 



Solids in Gm. Liquids in mils 

 Ferr. sulph. exsic. 



Pulv. nuc. vom. aa 11+j 



Sod. bicarb 225] 



M. et. f. pulv., etc. 

 S. (as before). 



Electuaries are not suitable preparations in which to prescribe 

 powerful drugs, as we cannot secure any degree of accuracy in the dos- 

 age. This happens because we do not usually know the exact amount of 

 excipient which will be required to make the paste of the proper consis- 

 tency.. We will write for an electuary containing potassium chlorate, 

 licorice and molasses. The Latin for potassium chlorate is potassium, 

 genitive, potassi-i, of potassium; chloras, genitive chlorat-is, of chlorate; 

 dose, oii. The Latin for powder of licorice root is (powder has been 

 given before) glycyrrhiza, genitive glycyrrhiz-(B, of licorice; radix, geni- 

 tive radic-is, of root. The Latin for molasses is syrupus, genitive syrup-i, 

 of syrup; fuscus, genitive fusc-i, of brown; dose of licorice root and 

 molasses immaterial. They are used as excipients. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



