Full text of "Prescription writing. Designed for the use of medical students who have never studied Latin"

See other formats

Google

This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project

to make the world's books discoverable online.

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject

to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books

are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.

Marks, notations and other maiginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the

publisher to a library and finally to you.

Usage guidelines

Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the
public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing tliis resource, we liave taken steps to
prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying.
We also ask that you:

+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for
personal, non-commercial purposes.

+ Refrain fivm automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.

+ Maintain attributionTht GoogXt "watermark" you see on each file is essential for in forming people about this project and helping them find
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.

+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just
because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other
countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of
any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liabili^ can be quite severe.

About Google Book Search

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers
discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web

at |http: //books .google .com/I

Prescription Writing.

DESIGNED FOR THE USE OF

MEDICAL STUDENTS WHO HAVE NEVER

STUDIED LATIN.

FREDERIC HENRY GJIRRISH, A.M., M.D.,

PBOVESSOB OF ANATOMT AND FORMERLT PROFESSOa OF MATERIA MKDIOA AMD

THSRAPEUTICS IN BOWDOIN COLLEGE, SURGEON TO THE MAINE GENERAL

HOSPITAL, PRESIDENT OF TOE MAINE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH,

PRESIDENT OF THK AMERICAN ACADEMY OF

MEDICINE, ETC.

5ebentf| anU ^t^aistn lEDttton.

• • *

• • • •

••• <•- •

• • * ? ••

• •• • «• • •

• ? • • • • •

• • * • • • •

• ••

PORTLAND, ME.:
LORING, SHORT, AND HARMON.

PUILADELPIUA : J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.

1888.

• • •

••

University Prbss:
JoHH Wilson & Son, Cambridge.

« r\ ■ ■■»
• < i

CONTENTS.

Paos
Pbefacb • . . • • 5

FIRST PART.
Rules fob Writing Pbescbiptions • • • • . 7

SECOND PART.

WOBDS USED IN WbITING PRESCRIPTIONS ... 39

APPENDIX.
The Metric System in Prescriptions .... 53

101tV5^

PREFACE.

Every teacher of medicine in this country must
have been impressed with the fact that a large pro-
portion of the students in our schools have no
knowledge of the Latin language. This is demon-
strated daily by the diflSculty with which they learn
the technical names of the various structures, dis-
eases, processes, and agents with which they have to
deal, each being committed to memory arbitrarily,
and affording no clue to any other term. In no
other class of cases, however, is this deficiency of
education so apparent as with regard to the termi-
nology of the pharmacopoeia, especially when it be-
comes necessary to make the grammatical changes
required in giving directions for compounding medi-
cines. Students are often deterred from under-
taking the labor needed to make them expert in
this respect, from a mistaken idea of its magnitude.
It is to help them in this very important but much
neglected part of their medical work that this little
book has been written. It is not designed to give
instruction in the art of prescribing, but simply to
teach those who know nothing whatever of the lan-
guage the little Latin which is essential to correct
prescription writing, and to inculcate such lessons on
this subject as a considerable experiaivfiA \a.\Rss.^s^jj&%.
has shown to be de8iia\Ae. TVl*^ ^a«\» ^^^sN. ^^^^iws^cca.

6 PREFACE.

the rules to be observed in writing prescriptions;
the second part presents all the words that are neces-
sary for (though not all that may be used in) this exer-
cise, so arranged as best to facilitate reference and
the easy acquirement of a sufficient familiarity with
their various forms.

I am aware that it may be objected to this plan
that it gives the student httle more than a parrot-
like command of a few words and expressions, and
does not teach him the principles of the language.
But I respectfully submit that it is far better for a
man to write a prescription correctly, even in the
most automatic way, than to blunder through it dis-
gracefblly, as so many habitually do, and thus expose
himself to the ridicule of apothecaries' shop-boys.
Besides, I cherish the not unreasonable hope that
the aid in prescription writing derived from the
little knowledge of Latin which this book may im-
part will so convince some students of the value of
the language, that they will systematically undertake
the mastery of its elements, and acquire a consider-
able vocabulary. The time is not very far off, I
trust, when no one will be allowed to matriculate in
a medical school who has not a good reading knowl-
edge of easy Latin. Until then, it seems to me that
such books as this is designed to be may perform an
important service.

F« H. Gr*
Portland, Mazkb,

ZlstofAvffU9t,\9ll.

PRESCRIPTION WRITING.

FIRST PART.

RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS.

The word Prescription is derived from the Latin
pra^ meaning ''before," and scriptum (the perfect
participle of scrihoy " I write"), meaning " written."
It, therefore, etymologically signifies ''something
written beforehand," and thus preserves the memory
of the custom which formerly obtained among phy-
sicians of writing down their advice for the guidance
of their patients. Soon, however, the word came to
be applied to any recommendation, whether written
or spoken, which the medical attendant made. Thus,
verbal directions about the food of the sick man, the
ventilation or lighting of his room, the preservation
of quiet, the change of linen, in short, aU things
which will in any way contribute to the restoration of
his health, are prescriptions.

But, though this is a not infrequent use of the
word, it has a restricted meaning ^\!L\rfa. Ss^ ^«ss^^s^
more common. It is empVoy^^ \ic> ^'Ei%\^Cka^fc ^ ^'^^
mala consisting of dixectioiia Xo ^a. ^.^oSJs^ftft^^ ^"^^^

8 PRESCRIPTION WRITING, [Part

ceming the compounding of a medicine, and in this
sense only will it be used in this book.

It should be understood, to start with, that the
object of this work is to give instruction in the art
of writing prescriptions, and not in that of prescrib-
ing. The one may be learned in a very short time
and with comparatively little labor ; the other can be
acquired only by prolonged study and experience
with diseases and medicines. I take it for granted
that the student has spent some time at his Materia
Medica, and knows something of the principles of
medicinal combination, of the incompatibilities of
drugs, and of dosage. It maj'' be well, however, to
mention that the true type of a prescription is based
upon a maxim of Asclepiades, Curare citOy tuto et
fucunde, which proclaims the duty of the therapeu-
tist to be to Cure quichly, safely^ and pleasantly.
This sajing it is alwaj's well to bear in mind in pre-
scribing, inasmuch as attention to its suggestions will
guide the physician- to the most advantageous admin-
istration of medicines. According to this rule, the
typical prescription contains, first, an ingredient
which is expected to do the chief work in the case,
whose office it is to cure or relieve the patient, and
which is hence called the Basis ; second, an element
designed to assist or accelerate the action of i\\^.
basis, to make it do its work more quickly than if
left to itself, and therefore known as the Adjuvant ;
third, a substance calculated to correct or modify
some undesirable or injurious effect of the basis or
the adjuvant, to cause it to act more safely than it
would alone, and for this reason named the Corri-
gent; and, fourth and last, a material which will
jrive such form and consistence to the preparation as
^ make it pleasant, or, at all events, not disagree-
^ble, for the patient to take, a carnei ot \Xi^ ^.^^^^

I. J RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. 9

parts of the compound, and consequently designated
the ExciPiENT. This will be understood at once by
a glance at tlie following table : —

Curare TCureJ with the Basis Tthe Essential).

Cito (Quietly) ,, „ Adjuvant (the Assistant).

Tuto (Safely) „ „ Corrigent (the Corrective).

et
Jucunde (Pleasantly) ,, ,, Excipient (the Vehicle).

As an illustration, let us suppose that we desire
to prescribe for a case of constipation in which the
Compound Extract of Colocynth would be an appro-
priate remedy. Employing this as the Basis, we may
assist its laxative action by associating with it a
proper quantity of Blue Pill, which would be the
Adjuvant. But Colocynth is liable to produce grip-
ing, and this tendency we can correct by employing
the Extract of Henbane as a Corrigent. Finally,
the addition of a little Syrup as Excipient will render
it easy to make the whole into a pill-mass of proper
consistency.

It must not be supposed that every correct pre-
scription contains all these elements. Sometimes
the Basis is all that is needed ; for it may alone be*
sufficiently powerful for the purpose required, may
have no tendency to produce any unpleasant symp-
toms, and, at the same time, be naturally in a con-
dition which renders it agreeable to take. In another
case, the Basis may need an Adjuvant or a Corrigent
or a Vehicle, or some two of these. The Basis is
always present, it is essential; the. others may or
may not be needed.

In prescribing, simplicity should be aimed at ; but
one must guard against the extreme which, for the
sake of simplicity, would violate the least important
of the charges in the old precept ^\^^r!ol^^ \^as^^'«»s!w-
lyzed, "Never gi\e a ^at^Oi^ ot \fika^^\»s^ ^^^^J^

10 PRESCRIPTION WRITING. [Part

is not required," is a rule which should have always
as its companion, " Give whatever drugs are needed
to cure quickly, safely, and pleasantly."

It is a good plan for a physician to keep about him
a sufficient quantity of paper, cut into pieces of con-
venient size and shape, for writing prescriptions.
One sliould never, when he can possibly avoid it,
rely upon a chance supply, such as may be had at the
houses of his patients. To say nothing of the in-
convenience which such a practice may entail upon
all concerned, it often obUges one to send out a slov-
enly-looking prescription, and it betrays a lack of
that thoughtfulness about Uttle things which is prop-
erly expected of a medical attendant. Pen and ink
are preferable to pencil, as producing wiiting which
is less liable to blmiing and erasures, and therefore
safer.

The writing should be so distinct that no word or
symbol can possibly be mistaken for any other.
Every letter even ought to be well defined. Some-
times it is a matter of literally vital moment that
just what the physician intends by his prescription
'should be given to the patient ; therefore it is a duty
to cultivate the habit of legibility, that clearness maj'
not be wanting when the greatest necessity for it
arises. The chirography of some physicians is sim-
ply homicidal.

In prescribing unusually large doses of powerful
medicines, which might alarm the druggist and cause
him to hesitate about compounding the prescription,
unless he were absolutely certain of the intent of the
physician, it is well to write the quantities of the
drugs in both Roman and Arabic characters. The
apothecary will then have e\idence that the dose was
dehheraicly and carefully determined upon, and will
without fear supply the patient inmie^atfel^'^ a.\id thus

LI RXILES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. 11

avoid a delay which, in an exigent case, might be
disastrous.

Before it is parted with, a prescription should be
carefully revised. Every item of it should be studi-
ously scrutinized, to make sure of its correctness.
He is a rare man who never makes a mistake ; and
it is very curious to see how strangely astray physi-
cians will sometimes go in their prescriptions, writing
for articles which are furthest from their thoughts,
ordering ounces for drachms, and vice versa, leaving
out the directions for quantities altogether, omitting
to state the size and time of the dose, and otherwise
giving evidence of wandering attention and deficient
care. It is well, therefore, if time permits, to lay
the prescription aside for a minute or two, until it has
cooled, as it were, and then examine it critically, as
if it were the work of some one else.

It is always desirable for the physician to sign his
name to the prescription, in order that, if there is
any question about its propriety, the apothecary may
know that a responsible party has written it, and that
a comphance with its directions will not result to the
compounder's detriment. Some physicians sign only
theii' initials ; and this, doubtless, is generally suffi-
cient in a small place, or in a large one if the doctor
is a distinguished practitioner. But, even in these
cases, it is far better to write the full name ; for pre-
scriptions are often carried out of the town in which
they are made, and beyond the boundaries of most
men's fame ; and a failure to show a practical recog-
nition of these facts, though perhaps really due to
the proverbial modesty of medical men, may be con-
strued by the evil-minded as an evidence of conceit.
If the place be a sizable city, it is advisable to give
the residence as well as the name^ so tXva^^K^^sjcsi^^^
way, if he desires, readily coIia\]\\.\Xl<^^^^^Kss^'^'^^

12 PRESCRIPTION WRITING. [Part

the medicine intended. This is more frequently
necessary than would be supposed by one unfamiliar
with the subject. Occasionally it is helpful to know
when a prescription was written ; the date, therefore,
should be inserted.

The exact quantity of the dose, the periods for its
repetition, the method of taking, and all other neces-
sary^ directions, should be written out at full length,
and in the plainest possible language, for the apothe-
cary to copy on the label. This is not only of great
assistance to the patient and his attendants, who,
witli all their anxiety and the extraordinary cares
which illness in the family always brings, are very
liable to forget the small but important details of
administration ; but it is also an aid to the apothe-
cary, in enabling him to detect eiTors in dose which
he otherwise could not, and thus, perhaps, to save
the physician from a mortifying predicament, and
the patient from an aggravation of his sufferings.
There are exceptional cases, however, in which it is
better to rely on the memory of the patient than to
label his medicine so distinctly as to arouse in the
minds of others suspicions as to the character of his
malady. In some cases, for example, we write
"Wash" rather than "Injection," although the
latter word is more closely descriptive of the char-
acter of the medicament, and the method of using it.
The shorter word is sufficient for the purposes of the
patient, and others are lefb in ignorance as to whether
it is scalp, eyes, urethra, or some other part for
which the lotion is designed.

Remedies to be employed topically should always

be so marked, to distinguish them from those which

are to be taken internally. Lack of attention to this

pomt has sometimes resulted fatally to the patient.

T^Tjhen a very powerful and concentraled Tsie^^^-c^Ska \a

I.] RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. 13

ordered, it is a good idea to have it labelled "Poi-
Bon," as a warning to careless persons. The direc-
tion, " To be used as ordered," though very common,
is to be avoided ; it is entirely valueless, since it does
not serve to recall to mind any thing except the fact
that some directions have been given, which was
well enough known before.

Some apothecaries have a space on their labels
for the patient's name, and it would be well if the
practice of writing the name on the prescription were
more common. There would be less liability to mis-
takes in deHvering packages to customers, reference
' to the apothecary's files would be somewhat facili-
tated, and, when there were two or more sick in the
same household, the chance of the wrong medicine's
being given to any one of them would be greatly
diminished.

Unfoiixinately, on many accounts, it is the custom
for apothecaries to refill prescriptions as often as
they are requested to. Physicians sometimes com-
plain of this practice, which, evidently, is frequently
injurious to them and to their patients ; but, for the
most part, they have only themselves to blame,
because they have so long permitted the wrong with-
out a protest. Apothecaries consider the transaction
in a commercial fight almost altogether, and gener-
ally have no idea of doing any one an injury. But,
if the phj'sician were to write across the face of his
prescription "Not to be repeated," or "To be re-
peated only so many times," or some other words
which would establish a limit to the legitimate
renewals, it is hardly supposable that a pharmaceu-
tist of respectability and honor, or even of moderate
shrewdness, would disregard tlie reasonable request
of one who alone is fully com^etft.\i\»\Ri ^^'^ ^\*<ssi&k
therapeutic requirementA ot ^Xikft ^'asfc^ «sn^ ^^^^^rr*^

14 PRESCRIPTION WRITING. [Part

favor and esteem he can poorly afford to lose. It is
not necessary to exercise this caution in all prescrip-
tions ; in some cases the repetition may be left to
the discretion of the patient. But, in ordering
powerful drugs, thought should always be bestowed
upon this point.

It is customary to employ certain domestic meas-
ures in administering the doses of medicines. Thus,
a teaspoon is supposed to hold a fluidrachm ; a table-
spoon, half a fluidounce. These implements are,
however, by no means of constant size, varying
often fifty or more per cent, from the regular stand-
ard. It is very desirable that patients should
supply themselves with the graduated glasses which
may now be easily obtained, and discard altogether
the old and inaccurate measures.

In apportioning the quantities of the different
elements of a prescription, the following rule will
afford assistance: First write the names of the
various ingredients, giving a line to each. Then,
having decided upon the length of time that the
patient will probably need to take the medicine,
and determined the frequency of its administration,
the whole number of doses is readily calculated.
Multiply the dose of each constituent in turn by
the whole number of doses, and write down each
product in its proper line.

In directions to the apothecary, it is desirable to
observe as much brevity as is consistent with perspi-
cuity. He is supposed to understand pharmacy, and
it is, therefore, unnecessary to give more than general
directions about the various steps in the operation of
compounding the medicine. The physician orders
certain substances to be put togetiier; the precise
method of doing this so as to obtain the best result
Jtis the businesa of the pharmacist to know. The

L] RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. 15

prescriber takes care that the articles are not incom-
patible and are capable of forming a proper mixture ;
the rest may be lefb to the compounder.

The foregoing directions should be observed, what-
ever the language may be in which the prescription
is indited. It is quite proper to write it in English,
if one chooses. There are even some who inveigh
acrimoniously against the practice of writing prescrip-
tions in Latin, considering it an unnecessary trouble,
a relic of a by-gone and less enlightened age, a
pedantic display of useless knowledge, and, per-
haps, other and still more objectionable things.
But, nevertheless, it is a phenomenal occurrence to
find a prescription written in EngUsh ; that is,
entirely in English, even by those who deprecate
the use of Latin. They usually unconsciously allow
something of the berated tongue to obtain entry
into their prescriptions, and the result is a hodge-
podge which woidd be amusing were it not so de-
plorable.

In spite of all objections, Latin is by far the best
language for prescriptions. It is not subject to the
variations which modem languages are continually
undergoing, being, as it were, crystallized. It is
consequently adopted as the language for scientific
nomenclature, and formerly scientific works were
written in it altogether. There would seem to be
no reason why the names of drugs should be an
exception to the otherwise universal rule, and Latin
is therefore employed in naming the articles of the
pharmacopceia. It is the only language in which it
is practicable to write the international pharma-
copoeia, which is so important a desideratum. The
advantage of a well-established language for scien-
tific terminology is plainly aeeiv vdl \ks& «^^'i&Rx
definiteness wiS wbidi ixi<^^cm<^ ts^^ ^^fe ^^i^^seis^

16 PRESCRIPTION WRITING. [Pakt

In Latin. The Latin name for a drag is applied to
no other, and one is sure to get what he desires if
he has written for it under its scientific title, — pro-
vided, of course, that the pharmacist does his duty.
But, in ordering certain articles by their English
names, we are often uncertain with what we may be
furnished, the terms used being frequently applied
variously. Thus, if Indian Hemp be written, mean-
ing Apocynum Cannabinum, a diuretic, diaphoretic,
etc., there may be put up Cannabis Indica, a stimu-
lant-narcotic. K we order Yellow Root, hoping to
get Xanthorrkiza, a simple bitter, we may be disap-
pointed by receiving Hydrastis, a diuretic. So the
word Wintergreen is applied to Ghimaphila, an
astringent and tonic, and to Gaultheria^ a carmina-
tive and stomachic. Checkerberry and Foxberry
will bring us at one time the astringent and diuretic
Uva Ursi; at another, the aromatic Gaultheria,
Snakeroot is a name given to Serpentaria, OimicU
fuga, Senega, Asarum, Eryngium, and other drags ;
and Stinkpoke is the somewhat descriptive appella-
tion of agents of widely differing powers, such as
Dracontium, Ghenopodium, Stramonium, and Polanisia
Graveolens. From these illustrations we see that the
indefiniteness of an English name may occasion not
merely inconvenience, but even disaster; and, if
there were no other reason for using Latin, this alone
would be sufficient.

But these are not the only advantages which come
from writing prescriptions in Latin. It is often desir-
able to keep the patient in ignorance of what he is
taking. There is a prejudice in the minds of many
people against the use of certain drags, such as mer-
cury, lead, etc. ; and the names of these often valua-
ble remedies may be successfully concealed under
tAelr technical titles, without aroxifiimg «ii «^i%^\aSsycL\i.%

I] RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. 17

to their trae character. In most cases, indeed, it is
better that the patient should not know the exact
composition of his medicine. Although it may be
the article which of all things is best adapted to his
needs, it will be less Hkety to do him all the good
of which it is capable, if he discovers that it is some
common and, to his mind, ignoble weed, than if he,
judging from its imposing name, conceives an idea
of a rare and stately exotic. I would by no means
be understood to advocate, in any case, the practice
of deception with the sick, which, to say the best of
it, is impolitic in the long nm ; nor would I defend
the quackish habit which some pliysicians have of
impressing their patients witii a sense of their impor-
tance by grandiloquently airing their knowledge of
technical expressions ; but we ought not to ignore
the advantages whicli arise from keeping our own
counsel at times, and the benefit which may, in a
purely incidental way, come from the feeling of won-
der and awe wliich, in the inind of the average man,
is associated with the unknown. As it would often
be cruel to the patient to volunteer, or even allow to
be extorted, a complete pathological description and
prognosis of his case, so it is generally unwise to
permit him to know just what he is taking for a
remed3\

A ver}' limited knowledge of Latin is sufficient to
enable one to write prescriptions properl3\ The nec-
essaiy* vocabulary', though comprising over six hun-
dred words, has been almost entirely learned already
by the student who has studied his ]\Iateria Medica
faithfully ; and the chief difficulty to be encountered
is in making the changes which are requisite to the
correct grammatical wording of the directions to the
apothecar}'. The careful study of the following aim- .
pie rules will, it is believed, euaXiVi owi ^^^v^niSr^n.^

18 PRESCRIPTION WRITING, [Part

unacquainted with Latin Grammar easily to write
elegant prescriptions. The effort has been to reduce
the subject to its lowest terms, to make it so readily
comprehensible that lack of time to study Latin will
be no excuse for a badly written prescription.

Very few verbs are used in prescriptions. These
are mostly imperatives addressed to the apothecary.
Some are very conunon, occurring in a majority of
prescriptions ; as Recipe (take) , SRsce (mix) , Signa
(mark or label) , Fiat (let [it] be made) , or Fiant
(let [them] be made) . Others are less common, but
still often used, as Adde (add) , BuUiat (let it boil) ,
Cola (stram). Divide (divide), Macera (macerate),
Repetatur (it may be repeated). Solve (dissolve),
Sufficit (it suffices), and Tere (rub). These need
undergo no changes.

The last remark applies also to prepositions, con-
junctions, and adverbs, which are quite infrequent.
The principal are Cum (with), In (in, or into), Ad
(to, or up to) , Et (and) , and Ana (of each) .

Almost all the words in prescriptions are nouns
and adjectives.

There are five declensions, or methods of forming
the cases, in Latin ; but, as there are no pharmaco-
poeial words of the fifth declension, we need consider
but four. Each declension has six cases ; but, as it
is very rarely necessary to use more than three, the
•others will be ignored. It will be easier to commit
the exceptions outright and arbitrarily, than to learn
the rule for their formation.

The three cases which are most emploj'ed arc the
Nominative, which corresponds exactly to our Eng-
lish nominative ; the Genitive, the counterpart of the
English possessive, or objective with " of;" and the
Accusative, which takes the place of the English ob-
Jective after a verb or preposition. T\i^a^ ^Sia^'^ ^s^

I.] RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. 19

distinguished by their endings, the preceding portion
of the word being called the stem. The stem may
be found by dropping the ending of the genitive sin-
gular ; and the several cases may, in most instances,
be formed by adding to this stem the case-endings.
In all the following examples the case-endings are
printed in Italics.

FIRST DECLENSION.

All pharmacopoeial nouns ending in a (excepting
Physostigmd) are of the first declension, of the fem-
inine gender, and are formed like Rosa}

Singular Number.

Nominative Rosa, a rose. a

Genitive Ros/e, of a rose. 8B

Accusative Rosam, a rose. am

Plural Number.

Nominative Rose?, roses. eo

Genitive Rosartxm, of roses. arum

Accusative B/osas, roses.

It will be noticed that the stem Eos remains nn-
changed all through the declension. Particular pains
should be taken to become perfectly familiar with «he
case-endings, for these are tiie great stumbling-blocks
to students generally.

1 There are two pharmacopoeial neons of the first declension
which end in e ; namely, AloS and Mastiche. The case-endings
in the singular are :

Nominative e,
Genitive es,

Accusaiivt «ik.
The plural is formed like t\v&t ol Bosa.

20 PRESCRIPTION WRITING, [Pakt

SECOND DECLENSION.

All pharmacopoeial nouns ending in us (excepting
Rhus and the three nouns of the fourth declension)
are of the second declension, mostly of the mascu-
line gender, and are formed like Bubus,^

Singular Number*

Nominative Rubus, a blackberry. ua

Genitive Rubi, of a blackberry. i

Accusative Rubwm, a blackberry. mn

Plural Number,

Nominative Rubi, blackberries. i

Genitive Ruboram, of blackberries. omm

Accusative Rubos, blackberries. os

All pharmacopoeial nouns ending in um are of
the second declension, of the neuter gender, and are
formed like Acidum,^

^ There is one pharmacopoeial noun of the second declension
which ends in os; namely, Pnnos. The case-endings in the
singular are :

Nominative os,

Genitive 1,

Accusative on.

The plural is formed like that of Rnhus.

2 There are three pharmacopoeial nouns of the second de-
clension which end in on ; namel^r, Erythroxylon, Ucematoxylon,
and Toxicodendron^. The case-endings m the singular are ;

Nominative on,
Genitive i.

Accusative on.

The plural is declined like that of Acidum,

L] RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. 21

Nominative

Genitive

Accusative

Nominative

Genitive

Accusative

Singular Number.

Acidum, an acid. um

Acidt, of an acid. i

Acidum, an acid. um

Plural Number.

Acida, acids. a

Acidorum, of acids. orum

Acida, acids. a

Notice, here and everywhere, that the accusative
of a neuter is always like the nominative of the same
number.

THIRD DECLENSION.

Declinable pharmacopoeial nouns having other nom-
inative endings than a, US, and uni; are (with six
exceptions ^) of the third declension. Thej' are
mostly masculines and feminines, and these are
declined like Liquor.

Nominative

Genitive

Accusative

Nominative

Genitive

Accusative

Singular Number.

Liquor, a solution. —

Liquor^, of a solution. ia

Liquorem, a solution. em

Plural Number.

Liquored, solutions. ea

Liquorum, of solutions. um

Liquored, solutions. es

Some of them are neuter, and are declined like
Marmor.

1 The exceptions are the two nouns in e, of the first declen-
sion, and the one in o«, and three vxi on^ oil NJfta ^jsiRRrcw^^-sJ^ <:^.
which have been previotialy cou^xOl^t^^.

PRESCRIPTION WRITING.

[Tart

Nominatioe

Genitive

Accusative

Nominative

Genitive

Accusative

Singular Number.

Marmor, marble.

Marmons, of marble.
Mannar, marble.

Plural Nundter,

Marmora, marbles.

Marmorum, of marbles.
Marmora, marbles.

In the two examples given, the nominatiye is the
stem, and there is no case-ending. In many other
words a nominative ending, as is or e, occors ; in
others still the nominatiye not only lacks an ending,
but is less than, and sometimes otherwise different
from, the stem. These can easily be learned by
studying the list of words of the third declension in
the Second Part of the book.

FOURTH DECLENSION.

Three pharmacopceial nouns ending in ns are of
ao fourth declension, and are formed like Fructtis.
<)ne of them, Spiritus^ is of the masculine gender,
and two, Gornus and Quercus, are feminine.

Nominative

Genitive

Accusative

Nominative
Genitive

Singular Number,

Fructws, the fruit.

Fructu5, of the fruit.
Fructum, the fruit.

Plural Number,

Fructiw, the fruits.

Fructiium, of the fruits.
Fructus, the iimta.

urn

uum

LI RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS, 23

The following table will show at a glance the end-
ings of these three cases in both numbers of all
four declensions: —

Singular Number.

First
Deolrn.

Sboomd
Deolen.

Third
Declbn.

Fourth
Declen.

Nominative

Genitive

Accusative

Maae. Neuter

ua um

i
um

Ua80.&Fem. Neat.

(Various)

em Like Norn.

us
us
um

Plural Number.

Nominative

Genitive

Accusative

arum
as

i a

Drum
oa a

es a

um
es a

uum

The plural cases are quite infrequently used in
prescriptions, except in naming the quantities of the
mgredients. The ablative case occurs in the pharma-
copoeia only after the preposition cum^ and then only
as follows: cum Creta (with Chalk), cum Galce
(with Lime), cum Gantharide (with Cantharides) ,
cum Ferro (with Iron), cum Hydrargyro (with Mer-
curj'), cum Magnesia (with Magnesia). Cum semisse
(with a half) is used often in prescriptions.

A few nouns employed in prescriptions are inde-
clinable, that is to say, have the same form in every
case, both singular and plural. A Ust of them is
given in the Second Part.

The adjectives used in prescriptions are declined
like nouns, those ending in a like Rosa,^ in us like
Bubus,^ in nm like Acidum,^ and all others tike
the nouns of the third declension.

^ Excepting una, whose genitive is uni'u^. ^ ^

■ Excepting unus, wUobq geiii\AN^\a>Mvv»^%5A Jw\.\»»>'^^«^5'^^
is of the third declension.

* Excepting unum, whose getiWVj^Na w»m*-

24 PRESCRIPTION WRITING. [Part

Adjectives agi'ee with the nouns to which they
belong in gender, number, and case.

Sometimes adjectives are of the same declension as
the nouns with which they agree, as in these iUus-
trations: Amygdala Amara, both being of the first
declension ; Acidum Ihnnicum, both of tlie second de-
clension ; jEther Fortior^ both of the third declension.

But \evy often adjectives are of different declen-
sions from the nouns with which the}' agree. The
following are examples of this statement : Amygdaia
Dulcis, the noun of the first declension, the adjective
of the thii'd ; Veratrum Viride^ noun of the second,
adjective of the third ; Calx Chlorata., noun of the
third, adjective of the first ; Sulphur Lotum, noun of
the third, adjective of the second.

Sometimes, as in English, a noun has more than
one adjective agreeing with it, as Extractum Sarsa-
parillce Compositum Fluidum*

To illustrate these directions, we will take an ex-
ample of a prescription written in EngUsh, and ren-
der it in Latin.

Take of Sulphate of Iron one scruple,

of Extract of Quassia two drachms.
IMix them and divide into twenty-five pills.
Mark. For Mr. John Jacens. Take one pill half an
hour before each meal.

Peter Probang, M.D.,
21, III, 1875. 8 Laudanum Lane.

Translated into Latin, this would read as fol-
lows : —

Recipe Ferri Sulphatis scrupulum unum,
Extracti Quassise drachmas duas.
Misce et in pilulas viginti quinque divide.
Signa. For Mr. John Jacens. Take one pill half an
hour before each meal.

Peter Probakg, M.D.,

^■I, III, 1875. ^ l^SC\l^Wi»H!L\iWLA.

L] RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS ^5

Let us now examine this translation in detail, and
see the reason for each step in the process.

It will be remembered that a prescription was de-
fined to be a formula consisting of dii'ections to an
apothecary. We commence by conmianding him to
" take " definite quantities of certain things which we
desire to have associated in the medicine. So we
employ the imperative singular of the Latin verb
Recipio (I take), which is Recipe (take thou). The
subject (thou) it is as unnecessary to express in
Latin as in EngUsh. Now, the first thing which he
is to take is " one scruple " of a certain drug ; and,
as *' scruple," being the immediate object of " take,"
is in the objective case, the Latin equivalent must be
in the corresponding case, namely, the accusative.
Scrupulus is the Latin for scruple, and, as it is of the
second declension, the accusative is scrupulum. So
we have Recipe scrupulum. This would suflSciently
indicate the niunber ; but it is customary to aflfix a
numeral adjective to all the nouns denoting measure
and weight, so we take the accusative of unus (one) ,
which, likewise being of the second declension, is
unum. It would not answer to take the accusative of
una, which also means one ; for the adjective must
agree with its noun in gender as well as in uimiber
and case, and scrupulus being mascuhne, needs an
adjective of the same gender to go with it. The ter-
mination us shows unus to be mascuhne, while the
final a of una stamps it as feminine. This makes
Recipe scrupulum unum. The drug of which we want
one scniple is the Sulphate of Iron, of which the
pharmacopoeial name is Ferri Sulphas, Ferri is the
genitive of Ferrum (Iron), and means, therefore,
"of Iron." Sulphas means Sulphate, or The Sul-
phate. The Latin order in many iu8ta.CLQft& ^\»sisi».
the limiting genitive belote l\i"^ \iO\£Ml•a5o;s^^ *CSiss^^

26 PRESCRIPTION WRITING. [Pakx

the sense is the same whatever the arrangement may
be. But as we write in English "one scruple of
Sulphate of Iron," so we must change the word
Sulphas (Sulphate) to mean "of Sulphate." This
we can do by using the genitive case. Turning to
the Second Part of the book, we find in the Hst of
nouns of the third declension that the genitive of
Sulphas is Sulphatis. So we now have Eecipe scru-
pidum unum Ferri Sulphatis, or, to observe the usual
order in prescriptions, by which the names of the
ingredients are placed before the words designating
the amount of each, Recipe Ferri Sulphatis scrupulum
unutn. The word Ferri needed no change, of course,
already meaning exactly what we want, " of Iron."

In translating the second line of the prescription,
we proceed in precisely the same way. Thus, as
"drachms" is in the objective case after "take,"
we wiite the accusative plural of drachma^ which is
drcuihmas. As " two" drachms are ordered, we aflSx
the accusative of dua,^ the feminine form of the
Latin numeral which means two, thus making an
agreement of gender between the adjective and noun,
and have drachmas duos. The article of which this
quantity is ordered is Extract of Quassia, in Latin
Extractum Quassice ; but as we write " of Extract of
Quassia," we must use the genitive case of Extractum^
which is Extracti, Quassice, the genitive of Quassia^
means "of Quassia," and stands unchanged. The
second line, then, will be Drachmas duos Extracti
Quassia, or, to correspond with the arrangement of
the first hue, Extracti Quassice drachmas duas.

In rendering " Mix them " in Latin, we may omit
the pronoun, as there could not be any consequent
mistake, and write simply the second person singular

'' See declenaioB of namerals on page i).

I-l RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS 27

imperative of Misceo (I mix) , which is Misce. * ' And '*
is et. *' Divide " is translated by the second person
singular imperative of Divido (I divide), which is
Divide. For " into" we substitute in, a preposition
which is followed by the accusative case; so we
write after it pilulas, the accusative plural of pilula
(a pill), and thus render the word '* pills." The
Latin for " twenty-five" is vigirUi quinque^ an inde-
clinable numeral. Following the usage of the lan-
guage which places the verb last, we have for this
line, Misce, et in piliUas mginti quinque divide.

Next comes the direction "Mark," which we
translate by Signa, the second person singular im-
perative of Signo (I mark) . Now, every thhig which
follows this verb should be transferred to the label on
the medicine. It is the directions to or about the
patient, and these we want to have as plain to him
as they can possibly be made. So we do not turn
into Latin any thing which follows Signa, Let no
one object that this is a mixing of tongues such
as has been deprecated in a preceding page; for
the directions to the patient are, as far as the
apothecary is concerned, to be regarded as so many
arbitrary signs. Indeed, it is not impossible that
they might weU be hieroglyphics in certain cases.
It undoubtedly sometimes happens that the direc-
tions to the patient are in a language which the
apothecary does not understand; and, in such a
case, his duty is to copy the words between Signa
and the doctor's signature literatim. In so doing he
is simply following instructions, which are to mark
on the label whatever follows Signa. It is the cus-
tom in some other countries for the physician to
write the directions in Latin, and for the pharmaceu-
tist to translate them into English otl tij^fc V^&SsssJs.*
Aside from the fact thai t\i\a \a \io\. ^ ^N;xv^\. ^^"aKc^'

28 PRESCRIPTION WRITING. [Part

ance of directions, the usage is undesirable, first, on
the ground that the compounder may be unable to
translate the Latin into the tongue which alone the
patient and his attendants can understand ; and,
second, because the liabiKty to mistake is somewhat
increased by the passage of the orders through a
second language. In the United States it is the
nearly universal custom to write the directions for
administration just as they are intended to be on the
label. This practice is as different from the jumbUng
of languages which is often seen in the naming of the
medicines in prescriptions, as are successive remarks
of two people of different nationaUties, each in his
own vernacular, from the macaronic gabble of silly
school-girls who like to air their httle French and
Italian on every occasion.

After this comes the address of the prescriber,
and, finally, the date.

Now, here is a prescription written out in full, as
hardly one in a million is written ; for it is customary
everywhere to adopt abbreviations for every part of
the work. Some of these are desirable, others are
permissible but generally to be avoided, and others
still are never to be countenanced.

Those of the first class are desirable because they
shorten the writing without diminishing its clearness
Some of them are real abbreviations, others are arbi-
trary signs. Recipe is represented by its initial
letter ; but it is a common practice to draw a straight
mark across the quirk of the R, making the char-
acter R. The origin of this habit is curious. The
ancient physicians, who worshipped the now exiled
gods of OljTnpus, were accustomed to commence
their prescriptions with a praj-er to Jove, whose
hlessing they invoked on the action of the medicine.
Probably this petition was never very loii^^ wid we

I.] RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. 29

can easily believe that, foUowing the tendency of
prayers and oaths to diminish in length according to
the frequency of their repetition, it rapidly lessened.
At all events, we know that the expression of it
finally dwindled to the brevity of the astronomical
sign of Jupiter, u. AVhen Christianity supplanted
the older religion, the custom of soliciting divine ap-
proval of the dose continued, and prescriptions were
headed with condensed acknowledgments of a super-
natural being whose favor would make the medicine
curative, and whose disapproval would render it of no
avail. These supplications were compressed into
Aq, a pmyer to the eternal beginning and end, the
first and the last, the Alpha and Omega of all
things ; N. D., the initials of Nomine Dei (in the
name of God) ; J. D., Juvcmte Deo (Grod helping) ;
J. J., Juvante Jesu (Jesus helping) ; and, most ad-
mirable of all as regards conciseness, -|-, the simplest
sign of the cross of Calvary. But, although Christi-
anity has progressed, and the former theology is now
remembered only as an interesting superstition of a
childish age, the Christian s3'mbols have faUen into
complete desuetude, and the mark, which so many
centuries ago represented a devout petition to the
great thunderer, is still seen at the head of our pre-
scriptions, modified by the addition of the perpen-
dicular stroke, which makes it equally the initial of
Recipe, and the prayer to Jove. Octarius (a pint)
and Congius (a gallon) are reduced to their initials,
O and C. Quantum sufficit (a sufiSeicnt qnantit}') is
represented by q. $. Minimum (a minim) is indicated
by m, or by m. Granum (a grain) is condensed
into gr. ; gutta (a drop), into gtt. ; semissis (& half),
and cum seniisse (with a half) , into ss ; and libra (^
pound), into lb. Arbitrary si[g^\skaixfc\s«ft\^ ^i^^s^n^
fbr the representation of drachma (^a ^kX«^*^^xfi^^ -

30 PRESCRIPTION WRITING, [Part

uncia (an ounce), g, and scrupulm (a scrapie), 9;
and, when a fluidrachm or a fluidounce is wanted,
the letter f is placed before the sign for drachm or
ounce, as the case may be. An abbreviation or sign
stands for any case of the Latin noun which it repre-
sents. The Roman numerals are used instead of the
full Latin numeral adjective ; so we have i, v, x, c,
d, etc. As I and J were interchangeable in the
original Latin, it is customary to write j instead of i,
when the latter would stand as the last letter in a
numeral combination, thus, ij, vj, xij, instead of ii,
vi, xii ; but this is, of course, a matter of no con-
siderable consequence. It will be observed that the
lower-case characters are used instead of capitals.

Next, there are some abbreviations which are per-
missible. Most of the names designating the kinds
of pharmaceutical preparations come under this head.
Thus, we may make the first few letters of a noun or
adjective stand for any of its cases, as piL for
pilula, chart, for chartula, mist, for misturay liq, for
liquor^ puiv, for pulvis, tinct. for tinctura, syr, for «yrw-
pus^ aq, for aqucL, comp, for compositus, composita^ or
compositum, Jl, for Jluidus, Jlmda, or fluidum^ diL for
dtlutus, diluta, or dilutum. It is likewise very com-
mon to reduce the names of the drugs in the same
wa}', as Hydrarg, for Hydrargyrum^ Morph. for MoT"
phinn^ BeUad, for Belladonna^ Ipecac, for Ipecacuanha^
Antim, for Anttmonium, Amyg, for Amygdala. Ana
is contracted into aa, A number of the verbs which
are employed are abbreviated, jiat and jlant becom-
ing ft,^ divide shortening into div.^ and misce and
signa dwindhng into M. and S. respectively. A few
of these are so obvious as almost to belong in the
class of desirables.

Finall)' come those which are never to be toloratedy
and they are pat in this claaa oi \TVQi'!LC.\iasJ;Aea be*

I.] RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. 31

cause of their ambiguity. Examples are found in
Acid. Sulph.^ which may mean Acidum Sulphuricum
or Acidum Sulphurosum ; Hydr, Chlor, which might be
Hydrargyri Chloridum^ or Hydras Ghloralis ; Add.
Hydroc.^ which is equally an abbreviation of Addwn
Hydrochloricum^ and Acidum Hydrocyanicum. One
who knows any thing of the physiological action of
these agents will see at once that here are chances
for mistakes which might be not only injurious, but
even deadly. The principle to guide us in all abbre-
viating is the rule of clearness. K a word when
abbreviated could possibly be mistaken for any
other, write it out in full. And, indeed, in all cases,
excepting those first mentioned, it is far better to
write every letter. There can then be no question
as to the meaning. If the objection is raised that
tliis method takes more time, it may be suggested
that when a physician's business is so extensive that
he cannot spare an extra minute on each prescrip-
tion for the sake of protecting his patient from the
danger of taking the wrong medicine, it behooves
him to consider whether his duty to the sick and
tx) himself does not require such a reduction of
his work as will allow him to devote enough time
and attention to every case to ti^eat it in all
respects with deliberate care. Human life and
health are too precious to be trifled with, and
hurry (I do not mean rapidity) in therapeutics is a
sin. Physicians who have long and, so far as they
know, safely abbreviated may scout these ideas, and
scoff at what they may think the pedantry of a fully
expressed prescription ; but no such comments will
be made by apothecaries, who are so often perplexed
and harassed by these abridgments, which, if the
truth were to be told, owe their eidatiKMifc \fc'a»k ^s»r
gnently to lack of time tYiaii \jo \!givat»xvR.^«

:= zj:^m'jr ¥:i:'^:nb. jr

•_!"

A . a>k. •

'■ III •taiau^ sad —of
•'-. T nT ire J r wi ' iJ' jy >■ - L'Tmniaiiiid Ex-

' .' ?:7i Sl" ■' ziM 'Wi'T'ta UTrti^ vnawipittf into

''.i.ri..*'-p i.T:L _iri'C uiiz ^p'tdF. ~~ Genius'" in
*" v^ -i^~-i.i.>r T-n^-i :»t ir-m*r^ ^DJ ArtTTDSSMTW {?}nnd
'/ r-i.f { n Lit: ^itr filler: :»"?iH':^ rif A«»JBrc —each"
it i:i:: ii_rr~-rr-: ' i^ ^^'Cbsc cits ema Kraits the

♦i'.'^i'-irr"': '. '-ij.T!^T~ i§ f-irSk^L'w pL-^-fr, Tlie rest
sjiA r><*^i ^a:;,viJL»"r-i i»rfore- Ti?c ijij>wi!^ is the

K. Eztnw,':; C'oVjrjiiihizji Compos:*! gr. xxxij,

iiy^irnriQ-n Cbionii Mitis. anm gr. xxir,

(/^m\ff)^y4t gr. rj,
A'l'i;/; *j. "I.
"hVt^t'j*.. Jfi pilij1aa( xxiv divide.

Hiif;poH<? w« want to prcftcribe a dozen of these
ffllU, wliirli, hvAW^ ofTicirial, are kept ready made in
nil NliopNf fuid an; known a» Piluhs CcUAarticte Com-
piinihp* Wn wrlUj : —

11 Vlhihxn (yailiartlQaii Compo«\t.«a x\V

I.] RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. 36

Here it will be observed that the name of the
medicine is written in tlie accusative case, instead of
the genitive, as is usual ; for the reason that there is
no noun of weight or capacity to stand as immediate
object of Recipcy but only the name of the medicine
itself, with a limiting numeral adjective agreeing
with it. If we ordered pills by the pound or pint, we
should then be obliged to put their name in the geni-
tive ; as, for example, as follows : R. Pilularum
Catharticarum Compositarum octarium unum ; that
is. Take one pint of Compound Cathartic Pills.

Another example : —

Take of Carbolic Acid two drachms,

of Alcohol,

of Glycerine, each, one onnce,

of Water six ounces.
Mix. Mark, Use as a lotion.

Employing the accredited abbreviations, and tak-
ing it for granted that the rules already repeatedly
illustrated are understood, it will readily be seen how
this becomes

R. Acidi Carbolic! 3i],

Alcoholis,

Glycerini, ana 5j»

Aquae Jvj.
Misce. Sigua, Use as a lotion.

Occasionally the physician, having decided upon
the whole quantity of his prescription, finds that,
after having written down the names and amounts of
all the active elements, some inert substance is needed
to make up the required bulk, or to act as vehicle
for the rest In such cases it is the custom of some,
instead of reckoning the exact amoiwvt oC \!sssi. ^^^-
tional substance, to order \,Y\^ «:^o\}aft.^«t^ Va vq^*''^^

36 PRESCRIPTION WRITING. [Part

enough of it to make the whole measure, or weigh, so
much. This is usually expressed by the preposition
ady here meaning " up to." For example, take this
prescription : —

R. Potassii Bromidi gjss,

Ammonii Bromidi 3iv,

Extracti Conii Fluidi 3iv,

Extracti Juglandis Fluidi §ij,

Aquae ad §vj.
Misce.

Though this practice is quite common, and is proper
enough in itself considered, it is not altogether un-
objectionable. I have known at least one instance
in which an apothecary, who was unfamiliar with
this style of writing prescriptions, translated the
Latin preposition by the verb which has the same
pronunciation in English, and actually aeMed a num-
ber of ounces of S3Tup where only a few drachms
were ordered. Until we can confidently count on a
more extensive knowledge than such compounders
display, it will be safer to reckon the quantity of
each ingredient ourselves.

A few words which are not pharmacopoeial, and
not names of medicines, are often convenient in pre-
scriptions. The chief of those not already mentioned
are char tula (a powder), pars (a part), lagena (a
bottle), scatula (a box), capsula (a capsule), tEqtta-'
lis (equal). Chartula literally means " a little sheet
of paper," but is used to designate one of the equal
parts of a pulverized medicine enclosed in a bit of
paper, and ordinarily called " a powder." Puhns is
the name applied to a powdered substance, chartula
to a little package of it prepared as a dose. Thus,
if we desire to give a patient several doses of Dover's
Powder, we may write : —

L] RULES FOR WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS. 37

R. Pulveris Ipecacuanhse et Opii 3 j.
In chartulas sex divide.
Signa, One at^a dose.

Here we say, In chartulas instead of In pulveresj
because we not only want the Dover's Powder divided
into six parts, but we want each of these done up in
a little paper. Pars is employed when we order a
fraction of any measure or weight, as grant partem seX'
tam^ — the sixth part of a grain. Lagena is con-
venient in ordering some preparation which is usually
kept in the shops in bottles of a given capacity, as
the Solution of Citrate of Magnesium, which is put
up in twelve-ounces bottles, one of which we may
order thus : —

R. Liquoris Magnesii Citratis lagenam.

Sometimes favorite preparations are kept on hand
in little boxes, each containing a known number of
lozenges, pills, or other dry solids ; and one of these
packages may be had under the name of scaiiUa.
Medicines of disagreeable taste, which may be ad-
ministered in small doses, are often ^advantageously
enclosed in capsules of gelatine or jujube paste.
When we desire this, we use the word capsula^ just as
in some other cases we do chartula. The numeral
adjectives and adverbs will be found in the Second
Part.

There are a few very common inaccuracies which
seem worthy of mention. It is improper to write
Fiat Alistura instead of Misce, unless the preparation
is really to be a pharmacopoeial Mistura, that is, a
suspension of an insoluble substance in an aqueous
fluid. It is incorrect to write grs* as the abbreviation
for grana, because there is no s in the word which
is shortened. The proper reductiow Ya» gprA<5it.^^3R5^a.
singular and plural. So, «\ao^ ^pxlxaa «x^^ ^>V.>iVx^

88 PRESCBTPTION WRITING, [Part 1

should be abridged into piL^ and not pilL Once in a
while a prescription is seen in which the s is left out
of Misce, — an error which is suggestive of the super-
stitions and barbarisms of medicine hundreds of years
ago.

It would be easy to multiply examples of prescrip-
tion-writing, but it is believed that enough have been
given to illustrate the principles which must be ob-
served in the work. The student is recommended to
practise diUgentiy in turning such English prescrip-
tions as he may come across into proper Latin, and
in correcting those which he finds are faulty. As
abbreviations and signs are universally allowed in
certain parts of prescriptions, the main difficulty will
be experienced in changing the pharmacopoeial names
from nominative into genitive. Especial stress is,
therefore, laid upon the necessity of learning the rules
for the formation of this case, and fixing them in
memory, as can be done only by persistent applica-
tion and practice.

SECOND PART.

WORDS USED m WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS.

In this part are collected the Latin words which
are used in naming the drugs and preparations of the
United States Pharmacopoeia, and such unofficinal
medicinal articles as are extensively ordered in pre-
scriptions ; also, other words which are necessary or
convenient in prescription-writing. The botanical
names of the plants from which vegetable medicines
are derived are not given, unless &ey chance to be
identical with the pharmacopoeial names, for the rea-
son that the latter only are used in prescriptions.

The following hints will assist in the use of this
vocabulary : —

K a word ends in a, it probably will be found in
List I. K not, it is most lU^ely the nominative plural
of some word in List in.

Words ending in us are mostly in List II.

A final urn generally points to List III.

If a word ends in CB, it is probably the genitive of
some word in List I.

The termination 1 almost certainly indicates the
genitive of a word in List 11 or List ni.

The ending is usually means that the ^otd ^ ^
genitive of some memY)ex oi "L^aVTSf •

PRESCRIPTION WRITING.

[Pabt

LIST I.

FIRST DECLENSION.

Nouns and adjectives ending in a, declined like
Rosa (see page 19).

All nouns and adjectives in a which are used in
prescriptions are thus declined, excepting Physo-
stigma (see List IV), Coca (see List VI), and una
(see page 49).

Acacia.

Alba.

Aloina.

Althaea.

Amara.

Americana.

Ammouia.

Ammoniata.

Amygdala.

Antifebrina.

Antipyrina.

Apomorphina.

Aqua.

Arnica.

Aromatica.

Asafoetida.

Atropina.

Avena.

Bacca.

Belladonna.

Berberiua.

Brayera.

Bryonia.

Burgundica.

Caffeina.

Calendula.

Calumba,

Cambosda.

Camphors.

Camphorata.

Capsula.

Cascara.

Cascarilla.

Cassia.

Castanea.

Cathartica.

Centifolia.

Cera.

Cetraria.

Charta.

Chartula.

Chimaphila.

Chirata.

Chlorata.

Cimicifuga.

Cinchona.

Cinchonina.

Cinchonidina.

Cocaina.

Codeina.

Composita.

Convallaria.

Copaiba.

Creta.

Cubeba.

Deodorata.

Destillata

Dimidia.

Drachma.

Dulcamara.

Ergota.

Fistula.

Flava.

Fluidrachma.

Fluiduncia.

Frangula.

Galla.

Gallica.

Gaultheria.

Gentiana.

Glabra.

Glycyrrhiza.

Grindelia.

Guarana.

Gutta.

Gutta-percha.

Hedeoma.

Herba.

Hvoscyamina.

Ichthyocolla.

n.]

WORDS USED IN WRITING.

Indica.

Inula.

Ipecacuanlia.

Jalapa.

Kamala.

Kraraeria.

Lagena.

Lappa.

Lavandula.

Leptandra.

Libra.

Liquida.

Lobelia.

Magnesia.

Magnolia.

Manna.

Massa.

Matricai'ia.

Medulla.

Melissa.

Mentha.

Mistura.

Mouobromata.

Morphina.

Morrhua.

Myrcia.

Myristica.

Myrrha.

Narcotina.

Nigra.

Sarsaparilla.

Oleoresina.

Scatula.

Oliva.

Scilla.

Pareira.

Scutellaria.

Physostigrnina.

Senega.

Phytolacca.

Senna.

Pilocarpina.

Serpentaria.

Pilula.

Soda.

Pimenta.

Sparteina.

Piperina.

Spigelia.

Piperita.

Staphisagria.

Ponderosa.

Stillingia.

PotaRsa.

Strychnina.

Praeparata.

Sulphurata.

Pulsatilla.

Terebinthina

Purificata.

Theobroma.

Quassia.

Thuja.

Quillaia.

Tinctura.

Quinina.

Tolutana.

Quinidina.

Tragacantha.

Resin a.

Uncia.

Rosa.

Uva.

Rubra.

Valeriana.

Ruta.

Vanilla.

Sabina

Veratrina.

Salvia.

Viola.

Sanguinaria.

Virginiana.

Santonica.

Vomica.

Nouns ending in e (see foot-note, page 19).
Aloe. Mastiche.

PRESCRIPTION WRITING.

[Part

LIST n.

SECOND DECLENSION.

Nouns and adjectives ending in us, declined like
Ruhus (see page 20).

All nouns and adjective in us which are used in
prescriptions are thus declined, excepting Fortius
and Rhus (see List IV), the nouns of the fouith
declension (see List V), and unus (see page 49).

[The (f.) after a word means that it is feminine.]

Aceticus.

Aromatic us.

Benzoinatus.

Calamus.

Caryophylius.

Chondrus.

Coccus.

Compositus.

Congius.

Crocus.

Dilutus.

Dimidius.

Eucalyptus.

Euonymus.

Exsiccatus.

Ficus.

Flavus.

Fusus.

Granulatus.

Humulus.

Hyoscyamus.

Juniperus (f.).

Moschus.

Nitrosus.

Octarius.

Odoratus.

Phosphorus.

Pilocarpus.

Praecipitatus.

Prunus.

Purificatus.

Ricinus.

Rosmarinus.

Rubus.

Saccharatus.

Sambucus (f.).

Scoparius.

Scrupulus.

Succus.

Syrupus.

Thymus.

Tolutanus.

Trochiscus.

Ulmus (f.).

Uraus.

Vitellus.

Noun ending in 08 (see foot-note, page 20).

Prinos.

II.]

WORDS USED IN WRITING.

LIST III.

SECOND DECLENSION.

Nouns and adjectives ending in um, declined like
Addum (see page 21).

All nouns and adjectives in um which are used in
prescriptions are thus declined, excepting unum (see
page 49).

Absinthium.

Abstractum.

Aceticum.

Acetum.

Acidum.

Aconitum.

^thereum.

Album.

Alcoholicum.

Alkalinum.

Allium.

Aluminium.

Amarum.

Ammoniacum.

Ammoniatum.

Ammonium.

Amylum.

Anisum.

Antimonium.

Apioleum.

Apocynum.

Aquosum.

Argentum.

Aromaticura.

Arseniosum.

Arsenium.

Aspidium.

Aurantium.

Aurum.

Balsamum.

Benzinum.

Benzoicum.

Benzoin um.

Bergamium (?).

Bismuthum.

Bisulphidum.

Boricum.

Bromidum.

Bromum.

Calcium.

Capsicum.

Carbolicum.

Carboneum.

Cardamomum.

Carum.

Caulophillum.

Ceratum.

Cerium.

Cetaceum.

Chelidonium.

Chenopodium.

Chinoidinum.

Chloridum.

Chloroform um.

Chlorum.

Chromicum.

Chrysarobinum.

CiuuamomutCL.

Citricum.

Colchicum.

Collodium.

Compositum.

Conium.

Coriandrum.

Corrosivum.

Creasotum.

Crudum.

Cuprum.

Cyanidum.

Cydonium.

Cypripedium.

Decoctum.

Denarcotisatum.

Despumatum.

Dialysatum.

Dilutum.

Dimidium.

Elaterinum.

Emplastrum.

Eupatorium.

Expressum.

Exsiccatum.

Extractum.

Ferrocyanidum.

Ferrum.

Flavum..

PRESCRIPTION WRITING.

[Part

Foeniculum.

Folium.

Frumentum.

Galbanum.

Gallicum.

Gelsemium.

GeraDium.

Glycerinum.

Glyceritum.

Glycyrrhizinum.

Gossypium.

Grammarium.

Granatum.

Granum.

Guaiacum.

Hydrargyrum.

Hydratum.

Hydriodicum.

Hydrobromicum.

Hydrochloricum.

Hydrocyanicum.

lUicium.

lufusum.

Ingluvinum.

Inspissatum.

lodatum.

lodidum.

lodum.

Lacticum.

Lactucarium.

Lignum.

Linimentum.

Linum.

Lithium.

Lotum.

Lupulinum.

Lycopodium.

Magnesium.

Maltum.

Manganum.

Marrubium.

Mezereum.

Minimum.

Nigrum. -

Nitricum.

Nitroglycerinum

Nitrohydrochlo-

ricum.
Oleatum.
Oleicum.
Oleum.
Opium.
Origanum.
Ovum.
Oxidatura.
Oxidum.
Oxygenium.
Pancreatinum.
Pepsinum.
Peruvianum.
Petrolatum.
Petroleum.
Phosphidum.
Phosphoratum.
Phosphoricum.
Picrotoxinum.
Plumbium.
Podophyllum.
Potassium.
Pr^cipitatum.
Prunum.
Purificatum.
Purum.
Pyre thrum.
Pyroxilinum.
Quantum.

Reductum.

Resorcinum.

Rheum.

Rubrum.

Saccharatam.

Saccharum.

Salicinum.

Salicylicum.

Santalum.

Santoninum.

Scammonium.

Sesamum.

Sevum.

Sodium.

Stramonium.

Stypticum.

Sublimatum.

Succinum.

Sulphidum.

Sulphuratum.

Sulphuricum.

Sulphurosum.

Suppositorium.

Taoacum.

Tanacetum.

Tannicum.

Taraxacum.

Tartaricum.

Tiglium.

Tolutanum.

Triticum.

Unguentum.

Veratrum.

Viburnum.

Vinum.

Xanthozylam.

Xericum.

Zincum.

Nouns ending in on (see foot-note, page 20).
£!rytbroxylon, Hsematoxylou. laxAacA^iitesii,

II.] WORDS USED IN WRITING. 45

LIST IV.
THIRD DECLENSION.

Nouns and adjectives of various endings, declined
like Liquor (see page 21) or Marmor (see page 22).

The first column contains the nominative, the sec-
ond the genitive, of each word. In the genitive
column all but the case-ending is is the stem to which
the proper ending of each case is affixed. The neu-?
ters are marked as such. (See rule about accusatives
of neuters, page 21.)

These words are far more difficult to form than
those of an}'^ other declension, and must, for the most
part, be learned arbitraril}*, b}' sheer force of memor}'.
A little help may be found in the fact that more than
one fourth of them end in as, and that of these all
but one (Asclepias) change the as to atis in the
genitive.

Acetas. Acetatis.

Adeps. Adipis.

^qualis. ^qualis.

iEther. Athens.

Alcohol (neut.). Alcoholis.^

Albumen (nent.). Albuminis.

Aluroen (neut.). Aluminis.

Animalis. Animalis.

Anthemis. Anthemidis.

Antimonialis. Antimonialis.

Arsenias. Arseniatis.

Arsenis. Arseuitis.

Asclepias. Asclepiadis.

Benzoas. Benzoatis.

Bicarbonas. Bicarbonatis.

Bichromas. Bichromatis.

Bisulphas. Bisulphatis.

Bisulphis. Bisulphitis.

' Considered mdecWiiaXAftV^ %qi\sw^ ws5iJsvwSilv^%^

PRESCRIPTION WRITING.

[Part

Bitartraa.
Boras.
Bos.
Calx.

Canadensis.
Cannabis.
Cantharis.
Carbo.
Carbonas.
Chloral (neut.).
Chloras.
Citras.
Colocynthis.
Confectio.
Cortex.
Digitalis.
Dulce (neut.).
Dulcis.
Effervescens.
Etnulsio.
Erigeron.
Fel ^neut.).
Flexile (neut.).
Flos.
Fortior.

Fortius (neut.).
Glaciale (neut.).
Hamamelis.
Hirudo.
Hydras.
Hydrastis.
Hydrobromas.
Hydrochloras.
Hypophosphia.
Hyposulphis.
Ins.

Juglans.
Lac (neut.).
Lactophosphas.
Lactas.
LimoD,

Bitartratis.

Boratis.

Bo vis.

Calcis.

Canadensis.

Cannabis.

Cantharidis.

Carbonis.

Carbonatis.

Chloralis.

Chloratis.

Citratis.

Colocynthidis.

Confectionis.

Corticis.

Digitalis.

Dulcis.

Effervescentis.

Emulsionis.

Erigerontis.

Fellis.

Flexilis.

Floris.

Fortioris.

Glacialis.

Hamamelidis.

Hirudinis.

Hvdratis.

Hydrastis.

Hydrobromatis.

Hydrochloratis.

Hypophosphitis.

H^pjosulphitis.

Indis.

Juglandis.

Lactis.

Lactophosphatis.

Lactatis.

11]

WORDS USED IN WRITING.

Liquor.

Lotio.

Macis.

Majalis.

Mel (neut.).

Mite (neut.).

Mucilago.

Nitras.

Nitris.

Nux.

Oxalas.

Pars.

Pepo.

Permanganas.

Phosphas.

Physostigma (neut)*

Piper (neut.).

Pix.

Portense (neut.).

Pulvis.

Pyrophosphas.

Radix.

Recens.

Rhus.

Rumex.

Salicylas.

Salix. ^

Santoninas.

Sapo.

Semen (neut.).

Semissis.

Silicas.

Sinapis.

Solubile (neut.).

Styrax.

Subacetas.

Subcarbonas.

Subnitras.

Subsulphas.

Sulphas.

Suiphis.

Liquoris.

Lotionis.

Macidis.

Majalis.

Mellis.

Mitis.

Mucilaginis.

Kitratis.

Nitritis.

Nucis.

Oxalatis.

Partis.

Peponis.

Permanganatis.

Phosphatis.

Physostigmatis.

Piperis.

Picis.

Portensis.

Pulveris.

Pyrophosphatis.

Riadicis.

Recentis.

Rho'is or Roris.

Rumicis.

Salic^latis.

Salicis.

Santoninatis.

Saponis.

Seminis.

Semissis.

Silicatis.

Sinapis.

Solubilis.

Styracis.

Subacetatis.

Subcarbonatis.

Subnitratis.

Subsulphatis.

PRESCRIPTION WRITING.

[Part

Sulphocarbolas.
Sulphur (neut.).
Tartras.
Tersulphas.
Valerian as.
Venale (neut.).
Venalis.
Viride (neut.).
Viridis.
Zingiber (neut.).

Sulphocarbolatis.

Sulphuris.

Tartratis.

Tersulphatis.

Valerianatis.

Venalis.

Viridis.

Zingiberis.

LIST V.
FOURTH DECLENSION.

Nouns ending in us, which are declined like Fruc-
tus (see page 22). They are exceptions to the rule
that words ending in us are declined like Ruhus.

Cornus. Quercus. Spiritus.

LIST VI.
INDECLINABLE NOUNS.

Amyl.

Azedarach.

Buchu.

Cajuputi.

Catechu.

Coca.

Kino.

Matico.

Sassafras.

A number of non-pharmacopoeial words, mostly of
recent origin, which analogy does not readily assign
to places in the lists of declinable nouns, and which
have not yet been distinctly located by lexicogi'a-
phers, are best treated as indeclinable. Such are the
following : —

Hydronaphthol.
Paraldehyd,
Phenol,

Quebracho.
Salol.

Thymol.
Urethan.

WORDS USED IN WRITING.

LIST vn.

NUMERAL ADJECTIVES.
Cardinals.

All indeclinable, excepting umiSy duOy and ires.

Sexdecim, sixteen.

(Jnus, one.

Duo, two.

Tres, three.

Quatuor, four.

Quinque, five.

Sex, six.

Septem, seven.

Octo, eight.

Novem, nine.

Decern, ten.

Undecira, eleven.

Duodecim, twelve.

Tredecim, thu^teen.
Quatuordecim, fourteen.

Quindecim, fifteen.

Unus is thus declined : —

Masculine,

Septendecim, seventeen.

Octodecim, eighteen.

Novendecim, nineteen.

Viginti, twenty.

Viginti unus, twenty-one.

Vi^nti duo, twenty-two.

Trigiuta, thirty.

Quadraginta, forty.
Quinquaginta, fifty.

Sexaginta, sixty.

Septuaginta, seventy.

Nominative

Genitive

Accusative

unus

unius

unum

Duo is thus declined :

Nominative

Genitive

Accusative

Masculine.
duo

duorum
duos

Octoginta,

Nonaginta,

Centum,

Feminine,
una
unius
unam

Feminine.
duae
duarum
duas

eighty,
ninety,
a hundred.

Tres is thus declined : —

Jfasculine,
Nominative tres
Genitive trium

Accusative tres

• • • • • •

• • • • • • •

• • • • •• •

• • •• ••••

Feminine.
tres
trium

• • ••• **•

Neuter.
unum
unius
unum

Neuter,
duo

duorum
duo

Neuter.
tria

50 PRESCRIPTION WRITING. [Part

Ordinals.

Only the masculine form of each is given; but
each has a feminine, ending in a instead of us, and a
neuter, ending in um instead of us. The mascu-
lines are declined like Ruhus (see page 20), the
feminines like Rosa (seepage 19), and the neuters
like Acidum (see page 21).

Primus first.

Secundus second.

Tertius thu'd.

Quartus . fourth.

Quintus fifth.

Sextus sixth.

Septimus seventli.

Octavus eighth.

Nonus ninth.

Decimus tenth.

Undecimus eleventh.

Duodecimus twelfth.

Tertius decimus .... thirteenth.

Quartus decimus .... fourteenth,

Quintus decimus .... fifteenth.

Sextus decimus .... sixteenth.

Septimus decimus . . . seventeenth.

Octavus decimus .... eighteenth.

Nonus decimus .... nineteenth.

Vicesimus twentieth.

Vicesimus primus . . . twenty-first.

Vicesimus secundus . . . twenty-second.

Tricesimus thirtieth.

Quadragesimus .... fortieth.

Quinquagesimus .... fiftieth.

Sexagesimus sixtieth.

Septuagesimus . .... seventieth.

Octogesimus eightieth.

Nonagesimus ninetieth.

Centesimna one hundredth.

ILJ

WORDS USED IN WRITING.

LIST vni.

VERBS.

Adde add.

BaUiat let (it) boU.

Cola strain.

Divide divide.

Fiat let (it) be made.

Fiant let (them) be made.

Macera . . . . . macerate.

Misce ...... mix.

Recipe take.

Repetatur .... let (it) be repeated.

Signa mark, or label.

Solve dissolve.

Sufficit (it) suffices.

Tere rub.

LIST IX.

CONJUNCTION, PREPOSITIONS, AND ADVERBS.

Ad to.

Ana « . of each.

Cum with.

Et and.

lu into, or up to.

Non not.

Numeral Adverbs.

Semel .
Bis . .
Ter .
Quater
Quinquies
Sexies .
Septies
Octies .
Novies .
Decies .

once,
twice,
thrice,
four times,
five times,
six times,
seven times,
eight times,
nine times.

APPENDIX,

THE METRIC SYSTEM IN PRESCRIPTIONS.

Singe the body of this book was written, so much
attention has been bestowed upon the metric system as
to make it desirable to add a few words on its use in
prescription writing. It is not intended to discuss the
merits or disadvantages of this method of reckoning ;
it is sufficient to know that an acquaintance with it is
rapidly becoming an absolute necessity to every man
who wants to read medical works intelligently.

In the transition stage from the old system of weights
and measures to the new, we must know both ; but the
difficulty of translating one into the terms of the other
is very slight. In prescription writing it is by far the
best plan to do away with the measures of volume, and
use only the measures of weight. This does not make
it necessary to remember the specific gravity of each
separate liquid preparation ; for in most cases sufficient
accuracy is attained by reckoning all as if they were
water, except the syrups, which are about one-third
heavier, chloroform, which is one-half heavier, and ether,
which is one-third lighter. Of the weights we need
employ only the gram, which is the unit, the centigram,
the one-hundredth part of a gram, and the milligram,
the one-thousandth part of a gram ; which correspond
exactly with the commonest terms in our United States
money, namely, the dollar, tli^ \iw\\., ^^\\\. Vss^ ^se^sJa^^-
lar, to make the nomendatox^ ^X.txx'cNxxx^l ^a^Tt«K^'«^'«^*

64 PRESCRIPTION WRITING.

ent iu all respects), the one-hundredth part of a dollar,
aud mill (millidollar), the one- thousandth part of a dollar.
A gram being a little more than fifteen grains, a grain
or minim is about .065 of a gram, or sixty-five milli-
grams ; a drachm or fiuidrachm is a trifle less than four (4)
grams ; and an ounce or fluid ounce a little less than
thirty-two (32) grams. If we drop the .005, the most
inconvenient part of the fraction, and call .06 of a gram
(six centigrams) a grain, we shall be sufliciently near for
the practical purposes of ordinary medication, making
our small error on the safe side, by giving the patient
less than he would be likely to get by the present
method. We generally deviate, too, in the right direc-
tion in calling four grams a drachm, and thirty-two
grams an ounce ; for the substances given in drachms
and ounces are usually the vehicle, or, if not that, are
of such a nature that so small an increase of the dose
would make no diflerence in the effect In adminis-
tering medicines there is, in the most favorable circum-
stances, a certain general sphere of error which is
inevitable. We cannot precisely apportion doses to
the needs of the sick ; and variations like those which
will result from the ready method of translation given
above are no greater than occur many times a day in
the practice of a busy physician who does not diminish
or increase the conventional grain dose of a drug
according as the patient is a few pounds lighter or
heavier than the average, has a pulse a few beats less
or more, or a nervous susceptibility a trifle below or
above the common.

The use of the Arabic characters in metrically writ-
ten prescriptions is essential to ready clearness and to
comfort, as the fractions of a gram could be represented
by the Roman numerals only by a tedious and, to
many, not very intelligible combination. It cannot
with much force be asserted that the u&e of tli^i&e figures

THE METRIC SYSTEM.

Is a mixing of tongues sach as has been objected to in
the preceding pages; for these characters are hardly
more arbitraiy as signs for words than are the Koman.
For instance, quadraginta would not seem to be more
naturally represented by XL than by 40. It is best to
separate the whole numbers from the fractions by the
decimal line, as we do in writing a column of dollars
and cents. Gram, (the abbreviation for Grammarium
and Grammaria, the Latin for gram and grams respec-
tively) should be written with a capital initial and after
the number indicating the quantity, so as to reduce to
a minimum the chance of the apothecary's confounding
it with gr. (the abbreviation for granum and grana)
which is placed before the number.

Example : —

R. Strychninae Snlphatis

Quininae Bisulphatis 2

Acidi Phosphorici Diluti . . . . 20^

Synipi Prunl Virginianae .... 70.00

Aquae Destillatae 50,00

Misee.

05 Gram.

LANE MEDICAL LIBRARY

Thii book tbodld be returned on or before
the date tast stamped below.

G37 Prescription wriiiiiK.
1888

NAME

DATE DUE

Internet Archive Audio

Featured

Top

Images

Featured

Top

Software

Featured

Top

Books

Featured

Top

Video

Featured

Top

Mobile Apps

Browser Extensions

Archive-It Subscription

Save Page Now

Full text of "Prescription writing. Designed for the use of medical students who have never studied Latin"

See other formats