With regard to form, it has been our object to show that there is really little difficulty in writing good prescription Latin, and where the slightest chance of error exists the ample expression, as we have strongly urged, should be used. A clear, business-like method, deliberately chosen and consistently pursued, will render this important item of the physician's labor simple, agreeable, and efficient.

It is wisest not only that the directions to the patients should be written in perfectly legible English and in full, but that they should contain the exact dose, time for, and method of taking, and, in short, every detail which may be advisable for the patient and nurse to know, clearly and intelligibly expressed. A physician ieldom justified in writing merely "As directed," the full directions being the only clue to the safety of the medicine. Moreover, verbal instructions to the patient or attendent may be partially or even wholly forgotten, or confounded with directions relating to other matters connected with the case, and thus the welfare of the patient be endangered.

The terms "For external use " or "Shake before using" will be applied by the pharmacist as indicated by the character and use of the prescription, and need not be specified by the physician; but the pharmacist never applies a "Poison " label to a prescription unless specifically directed to do so.

Should it be necessary to prescribe an extraordinary dose of some powerful drug, the name of the remedy should be underscored or attention called to it by a X, referring to the bottom of the prescription, where should be written: "Large dose intended," or "Dose of above correct," or something to indicate to the pharmacist that the writer is fully aware of the unusual amount, and thus save delay in consulting with the physician - which a careful and competent druggist would otherwise do. Should it, in the opinion of the physician, be undesirable to repeat the prescription, he should write at the bottom, "Do not repeat," or the customary Latin,"Ne repetatur."

In the case of a poor patient the letters P. P. after the name will insure the lowest price from the druggist.

Every prescriber should be supplied with suitable prescription-blanks arranged in the form of pads conveniently carried in the pocket, a suitable size being four by five inches. The paper should be of linen, of good quality; otherwise it is liable to become detached from the druggist's files and lost. A convenient form of pad is composed of prescription blanks with interleaves and copying paper, so that the physician may always retain an exact record of the remedies ordered for his patient.

It is certainly advisable for the physician to write his prescriptions invariably in ink, since pencil is easily erased, and a prescription thus perishable would be of little use in medicolegal emergencies. Besides, an unscrupulous druggist who had been careless in compounding the remedy might easily change the pencil instructions to conform to his mistake. Finally, the pencil-writing is always liable to be erased or partially obliterated when carried for some time or subjected to frequent handling.

The prescription-blank should have printed neatly upon one margin or the back the physician's residence and office, together with hours for consultation, and telephone number if he has one. This advertises the physician to some extent in a legitimate way, besides enabling the patient or druggist to communicate with him readily if necessary.

The prescription should always be signed by the writer in full, that professional responsibility and identity may be assured, the academic "M. D." being preferable as a title to "Dr.," which ipplicable to various professions - often of questionable repute and authenticity.

In concluding these practical hints, the author cannot too strongly impress upon the student the importance of always writing as clear, legible, complete, and classical a prescription as possible. In a new community the reputation of the recent graduate is often dependent upon the character of the prescription he writes. The druggist invariably scans his instructions from the new doctor critically, and the laity and the profession will soon learn the young aspirant's proficiency or ignorance by his public committal in a prescription. No matter how able a diagnostician, pathologist, or bacteriologist he may be, if his first effort in prescription-writing be illegible, in poor Latin, or for a hopelessly incompatible mixture, the druggist will label, classify, and measure him with the keenness of professional insight; the judgment will go forth quietly; and years of successful practice may not serve to eradicate that first unfavorable impression.

It would be well to remember the following simple rules of good usage in prescription-writing:

1. Solids are weighed, liquids measured.

2. Very potent substances are placed first.

3. Solids are written first in a liquid preparation, and liquids first in a solid preparation.

4. Never employ "ditto" marks.

5. Abbreviation is good usage (1) in the name of the kind of preparation, as elix. for elixir, tinct. for tinctura; (2) in the directions to the pharmacist; (3) in certain well-recognized expressions in the directions to the patient (for example, t. i. d. for three times a day); but abbreviation is never allowable when there is possibility of ambiguity.

If in doubt as to what is correct, write in plain English.