This section is from the book "Practical Materia Medica And Prescription Writing", by Oscar W. Bethea. Also available from Amazon: Practical Materia Medica and Prescription Writing.
There is some difference of opinion as to whether or not the prescription should be dated by the prescriber, as the compounder must always enter, along with the number and price charged, the date on which the prescription was .filled.
The present Federal Narcotic Law requires the date on prescriptions effected, and the habit of dating all prescriptions is certainly desirable.
If a physician retains a carbon copy the date is valuable datum, and) it might be of some advantage on the original in case of legal complications. A good argument for the custom is that the prescription is a regular order and all orders should bear a date. If the date is placed where it will not interfere with the space required by the compounder, there can be no argument against it. The pharmacist generally uses the lower left-hand corner for entering the number, date, etc.; so the physician should place his date at the upper part of the sheet to avoid any possible confusion. The best place is immediately after the name of the city, which should always be at the top of the blank with the physician's name, office address, etc. (See page 384.)
 
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