INTRODUCTORY LECTURE. 
251 
In the hurry of professional duties, it is by no means un- 
common for medical men to commit serious errors in the phrase- 
ology of prescriptions, indicating wrong quantities or wrong 
substances. Only a few weeks since, in New York, mor- 
phia was written where quinia was intended — it was dispen- 
sed, and death followed in its train. This is not an uncom- 
mon error, and has several times came under my own notice, 
as it doubtless has to some of you ; and in the instance men- 
tioned had the apothecary exercised the judgment that was 
proper to the occasion, the prescription would not have been 
dispensed. 
It should be a constant rule in compounding every prescrip- 
tion, to recur to the questions : is this as the Doctor designed? 
are the doses within propriety ? or if extraordinary, does the 
case demand it ? If the directions for use are appended, a 
judgment can at once be arrived at ; if not, a little tact will 
gain the necessary data by enquiries of the messenger skilfully 
propounded ;— and it is better even to delay the dispensation 
of the prescription until the physician has been consulted, 
rather than peril the life of the patient, or the reputation of 
his medical servitors. 
The apothecaries of the United States have much less legal, 
but far more moral responsibility resting on them, than those 
of most other civilized countries, where government enacts 
rules for their guidance, by compelling the observance of a 
uniform code of formulae. Our physicians represent every 
country of Europe ; their prescriptions are more or less modi- 
fied by the formularies and habits of their native medical au- 
thorities, and they often without due consideration prescribe 
remedies but illy understood. To avoid the difficulties thus 
engendered, requires, truly, great discrimination and clearness 
of judgment. A case in point occurred recently in London. 
A German physician directed six ounces of bitter-almond 
water as a vehicle in a prescription. The apothecary to whom 
it was taken, not having the preparation, sent to another 
establishment and obtained it. He then dispensed the medi- 
