Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
August,  1908.  / 
American  Medical  Association. 
385 
pursuit  must  learn  the  technical  terms  that  constitute  its  language. 
We  should  also  observe  strict  compliance  with  the  pharmaceutical 
nomenclature,  i.  en  that  when  a  preparation  can  be  classified  with 
any  official  class  it  should  bear  the  class-name  in  the  title.  Dosage- 
forms  are  being  pushed  with  a  simple  name  when  they  should  be 
designated  pilulae,  capsulae,  etc. 
Matters  of  this  kind  are  suitable  subjects  for  discussions  at  these 
joint  meetings,  which  may  result  in  agreements.  Thus  the  Chicago 
joint  meetings  have  discussed  the  prescription  and  several  have 
already  adopted  this  declaration  on  the  subject. 
DECLARATION  ON  THE  PRESCRIPTION. 
First.  The  prescription  is  an  utterance  of  the  prescriber  who 
alone  should  direct  and  control  its  employment.  It  should,  when- 
ever practicable,  carry  the  name  of  the  patient,  the  age  in  years,  if  a 
minor,  and  the  date  when  written. 
Second.  The  pharmacist  who  prepares  the  medicine  should  retain 
the  prescription  as  reference  for  his  services  and  as  record  for  a  cer- 
tain limited  period,  not  less  than  five  years,  for  the  protection  of  the 
prescriber,  himself  and  the  patient. 
Third.  The  medicine  prescribed  should  be  supplied  not  more 
than  once  on  the  same  prescription:  (1)  If  ordered  by  the  prescriber 
"not  to  be  repeated "  (N.  rep.) ;  (2)  if  containing  medicinal  sub- 
stances commonly  called  narcotic  or  habit-forming  drugs  ;  (3)  if 
called  for  by  some  person  known  not  to  be  the  original  holder. 
Fourth.  Copy  of  the  prescription  may  be  furnished  and  should  be 
written  on  an  especial  blank,  containing  a  declaration  that  it  is  a 
copy  of  a  prescription  which  has  been  delivered  to  the  original 
holder  and  is  not  to  be  refilled  except  on  order  of  the  prescriber. 
The  copy  is  made  without  recourse  to  possible  error. 
Since  many  physicians  have  quit  writing  prescriptions  because 
they  cannot  control  them,  this  declaration  has  been  formulated  by 
a  joint  committee  of  the  Chicago  Medical  Society  and  the  Chicago 
Branch  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association. 
It  has  already  been  adopted  by  one-half  of  the  branch  medical 
societies  in  Chicago,  and  it  is  believed,  when  generally  observed  by 
pharmacists,  it  will  be  instrumental  in  causing  physicians  to  resume 
writing  prescriptions  more  generally. 
