152 THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERB DOCTOR, 
Use carefully: that over-doses would do injury. Dangerous: 
that the greatest care should be exercised in measuring. If 
in drops, a dropper should be used, or a minim or drop 
measure. Very dangerous: these, with the foregoing, ought 
not to be taken by any but the experienced, and their effects: 
carefully watched; being as it were sharp-edged tools, they 
require skill to use them safely, The signs and abbreviations 
used by medical men are as follows :— 
Gr. stands for grain, which is the average weight of a 
grain of wheat. There are 480 of these to the ounce 
~) represents scruple, one of which is equal to 20 grains, 
24 to the ounce. 
5 stands for drachm, 8 of which make the ounce. 
e represents ounce, 16 of which make one pound. 
These signs do not represent any number unless the number 
is put down after them :—i. added to any of them signifies one 
scruple, one drachm, or one ounce. twois ii. ; three, iii. , four, 
iv. ; five, v.. and so on, the Roman numerals being always 
used. Pounds are seldom written, the number being given in 
ounces. Fl. is fluid, and prefixed to show that liquid is meant. 
O represents pint imperial, 20 ounces. When a half is 
signified two ss. are used. Thus ss. Lehind the sign 
means only half of it. Behind any cypher following, they 
mean half of one only, immediately preceding. It is very 
important to know well these signs, as a mistake might 
cost some poor mortal his or her life. Doses are generally 
_ calculated from the smallest to the largest for adulte. 
Delicate people should not take full doses, especially 
of the dangerous drugs. Abbreviations are generally the first 
part of the name, thus—sps. for spirits; syr. for syrup , tr. 
for tincture; pulv. for powder ; gtts for drops ; ung. for oint- 
ment ; emp. for plaster; eth. for either ; nit. for nitre: vin for 
wine; ol, for oil; treben. for. turpentine; hydg. means 
mercury ; mag. for magnesia ; sulp, for sulphur, or sulphate. 
Now we do not think it is safe for prescriptions to be written 
