ANoJv°T;m3RM-}  A  Sign,  to  Mark  Unusual  Doses,  etc.  491 
tive  evidence  that  a.  rule,  or  rather  a  sign,  of  some  kind  is  required  in 
this  country.. 
It  is  foJly  to  suppose,  as  averred,  that  we  can  have  any  conceivable 
interest  in  "  limiting  medical  practice,"  or  in  any  way  passing  a  shade 
of  criticism  upon  it.  Our  interest  is  almost  necessarily  in  a  contrary 
direction,  and  our  duty  is  obviously  clear  and  well  denned.  It  is 
simply  to  provide  with  perfect  integrity  the  medicines  prescribed;  but 
I  certainly  think  we  are  entitled  to  have  them  prescribed  as  plainly 
and  as  legibly  as  possible  ;  and  when  an  unusual  dose  is  required  it 
is  only  reasonable  to  request  that  it  shall  be  so  described  and  signally 
marked  that  there  shall  be  no  room  for  doubt  in  the  mind  of  the  dis- 
penser that  the  dose  is  really  intended,  and  not  mis- prescribed. 
If  doubt  should  exist  as  to  whether  a  prescribed  dose  is  intended, 
it  is  the  dispenser's  acknowledged  duty  to  communicate  speedily  with 
the  prescriber  to  ascertain  his  intentions. 
We  must  not,  however,  let  it  be  supposed  that  a  pharmaceutist  is 
not  at  liberty  to  decline  to  dispense  a  prescription  in  which  an  unu- 
sual dose  of  a  remarkable  character  is  prescribed. 
My  experience  includes  the  dispensing  of  some  very  unusual  doses, 
and  I  cannot  forget  the  grave  sense  of  personal  responsibility  dwell- 
ing in  my  mind  whilst  dispensing  these  particular  prescriptions. 
If  we  feel  the  responsibility  too  oppressive,  we  ought  to  consider 
ourselves  fully  at  liberty  to  decline  to  dispense  prescriptions  of  this 
exceptional  character.  I  am  sure  wc  should  never  lightly  exercise 
this  undoubted  right  of  refusal,  or  in  any  way  forget  to  show,  on  such 
occasions,  a,  proper  and  due  regard  for  the  delicate  professional  posi- 
tion of  the  prescriber. 
As  the  object  we  have  in  view  is  of  more  importance  to  medical 
men  than  to  pharmaceutists.  1  trust  the  medical  profession  will  give 
their  willing  and  necessary  aid  in  bringing  about  the  general  adoption 
of  a  sign  to  mark  unusual  doses.  We  may,  I  hope,  also  look  with 
confidence  to  the  medical  journals  to  endorse  our  efforts  to  establish 
the  use  of  that  sign  which  may  be  considered  to  be  the  best  suited  for 
the  purpose  intended. 
In  Germany  and  Austria  a  point  of  exclamation  is  used  to  denote 
an  unusual  dose  ;  thus — 
Tinctune  Digitalis,    .........    3iv  ! 
This  is  an  excellent  sign,  and  might  answer  the  purpose  in  this  coun- 
try, but  I  am  strongly  disposed  to  think  the  use  of  the  initial  letters 
