SYMBOLS USED IN MEDICINE AND PHARMACY.
Reading edition
Scruple; i, one scruple; ij, two scruples; ss, half a scruple; iss, a scruple and a half.
Dram or drachm; i, one dram; ij, two drams; ss, half a dram; iss, a dram and a half.
Ounce; i, one ounce; ij, two ounces; ss, half an ounce; iss, an ounce and a half.
A minim; a drop.
(Gr. ana), of each a like quantity.
(L. recipe), take.
The above symbols are employed almost always in medical prescriptions. A prescription consists of the following parts: (1) The Superscription; (2) The Inscription; (3) The Subscription; (4) The Signature. The Superscription, which consists of the letter , is a relic of the days of astrology. It originally was used to represent the symbol of the planet Jupiter. By common consent it is now regarded as representing the imperative mood of the Latin verb recipere, to take. The Inscription is a statement of the names of the substances to be used, with their quantities. The Subscription is made up of the directions for the guidance of the dispenser. The Signature includes the directions to the patient. This part of the prescription should be written in English; the other parts are in Latin. Sometimes the signature also is in Latin.
The body or prescription contains the following: the Basis, or principal active ingredient; the Adjuvant, or Auxiliary, to assist its action; the Corrective, to correct or diminish some undesirable quality; the Vehicle, or Excipient, to give a suitable form for administration.
PRESCRIPTION.
Superscription.
(Basis) Pot. Acet. v Inscription.
(Adjuvant) Tinct. Digitalis j
(Corrective) Syr. Aurantii j
(Vehicle) Dec. Scopar. ad viij
Misce, fiat mist. Subscription.
Cpt. Cochl. mag. ii. 4ta. q.q. hora ex paul. aquæ Signature.
Without Abbreviations or Contractions.
Recipe. Potassii Acetatis drachmas quinque. Tincturæ Digitalis drachmam unam. Syrupi Aurantii unciam unam. Decoctum Scoparii ad uncias octo. Misce, fiat mistura. Capiat cochlearia duo magna quartâ quâque horâ ex paululo aquæ.
English Translation.
Take thou (the dispenser). Five drachms of acetate of potassium. One drachm of the tincture of digitalis. One ounce of syrup of orange-peel. Decoction of broom up to eight ounces. Mix, let a mixture be made. Let him (the patient) take two large spoonfuls at each fourth hour, out of (in) a little water.
LIST OF LATIN PHRASES COMMONLY USED IN THE WRITING OF PRESCRIPTIONS.
aa. Ana of each.
Ad. Adde add.
Ad lib. Ad libitum to the desired amount.
Ad us. Ad usum according to custom.
Æq. Æquales equal.
Aq. Aqua water.
Aq. bull. Aqua bulliens boiling water.
Aq. dest. Aqua destillata distilled water.
Bib. Bibe drink.
Bis ind. Bis indies twice a day.
Bis in 7 d. Bis in septem diebus twice a week.
C. Cum with.
Cap. Capiat let him take.
C. m. Cras mane to-morrow morning.
C. m. s. Cras mane sumendus to be taken to-morrow morning.
C. n. Cras nocte to-morrow night.
Cochl. Cochleare spoonful.
Cochl. ampl. Cochleare amplum a table-spoonful.
Cochl. infant. Cochleare infantis a tea-spoonful.
Cochl. mag. Cochleare magnum a table-spoonful.
Cochl. mod. Cochleare modicum a dessert-spoonful.
Cochl. parv. Cochleare parvum a tea-spoonful.
Contin. Continuetur let it be continued.
Cpt. Capiat let him take.
Cuj. Cujus of which.
C. v. Cras vespere to-morrow evening.
Cyath. Cyathus a glassful.
Cyath. vinos. Cyathus vinosus a wine-glassful.
D. Dosis a dose.
d. Da give.
D. d. in d. De die in diem from day to day.
Det. Detur let it be given.
Dieb. alt. Diebus alternis on alternate days.
Dim. Dimidius one-half.
Div. Divide divide.
D. in p. æ. Divide in partes æquales divide into equal parts.
Exhib. Exhibiatur let it be given.
F. or ft. Fiat let it be made.
F. h. Fiat haustus make a draught.
F. m. Fiat mistura make a mixture.
F. pil. Fiat pilula make a pill.
Gutt. Gutta or guttæ drop or drops.
Habt. Habeat let him have.
Hor. intermed. Horis intermediis at intermediate hours.
H. s. Horâ somni at bedtime.
Ind. Indies daily.
Lat. dol. Lateri dolenti to the painful side.
Mit. Mitte send.
Mod. præscript. Modo præscripto in the manner directed.
O. m. Omni mane every morning.
Omn. bih. Omni bihorâ every two hours.
Omn. hor. Omni horâ every hour.
O. n. Omni nocte every night.
P. or pt. Perstetur continue.
Part. æq. Partes æquales equal parts.
P. r. n. Pro re natâ when required.
Q. l. Quantum libet as much as is requisite.
Q. s. Quantum sufficit a sufficient quantity.
Q. v. Quantum volueris at will.
Recipe take.
Rep. Repetatur let it be repeated.
Sing. Singulorum of each.
Sum. Sumat or sumendum let him take or let it be taken.
T. d. Ter in die three times a day.