Prescription

Prescription is the written direction given by physician or surgeon to the chemist, and may demand an officinal or an extemporaneous compound. Officinal compounds (or preparations, as they are frequently termed) are those for which formulæ are introduced into the national pharmacopœias, and are therefore supposed to be always at hand in the laboratory of the dispensing chemist (such, for example, as Mistura Ferri Composita, Pulvis Ipecacuanhæ Compositus—i.e. Dover's Powder—Confectio Sulphuris, &c.); while extemporaneous compounds are those which are devised on the instant with the view of meeting the various peculiarities which almost every case of disease presents. In some cases, where no chemical action is apparent or probable, a mixture of two or more drugs seems to modify the physiological effect of each ingredient. For example, Dover's Powder contains as its active ingredients ipecacuanha and opium, and yet in well-regulated doses it neither exhibits the nauseating properties of the former nor the narcotic influence of the latter substance. The selection of the most eligible form of the remedy is of extreme importance. The physician here has to determine whether he shall prescribe his remedy in the form of pill, powder, or mixture; whether he shall administer it as an injection into the lower bowel; whether the patient shall (in certain cases) inhale it; &c. As a general rule we should accommodate the form and flavour of our remedies, provided we do not sacrifice their virtues, to the taste of the patient, who usually prefers pills to draughts or powders. The unpleasant taste of many medicines which must be given in the fluid form may often be obviated by the skill of the prescriber. Castor-oil, cod-liver oil, and copaiba are most easily taken on the surface of orange-wine, or water containing a bitter tincture, care being taken to moisten with water the edge or rim of the glass at the part applied to the mouth. The taste of solution of potash and of lime-water is best covered with milk; and the disagreeable flavour of senna is said to be concealed if its infusion is made with strong tea.

In conclusion it may be remarked that it is the custom to write prescriptions in the Latin language, to abbreviate well-known words, to use symbols for weights and measures, and to commence each prescription with the symbol $\backslash mathcal\{R\}$, which signifies Recipe, 'take.' As an illustration, we append a prescription for a tonic draught (where $f.$ $\backslash frac\{3\}\{3\}$ stands for fluid ounce; $f.$ $\backslash frac\{3\}\{3\}$ for fluid drachm; $\backslash text\{m\}$ for minim; $\backslash text\{gr.\}$ for grain; $\backslash text\{M.\}$ for misce, 'mix'):

(Name of Patient.)

$\backslash text\{M.\}$ Fiat Haustus ter quotidie sumendus.

Date. (Initials or name of prescriber.)

As a parallel to this retention in western Europe of a mediæval usage, it may be mentioned that in the palmy days of the republic of Athens the Attic-speaking practitioner was held bound to write his prescriptions in the ancient Doric dialects; the reason in this case being that the schools of medicine in the Doric colonies of Magna Græcia and elsewhere were long the most celebrated.