The use of the Latin names of drugs in prescription writing seems to be still far from universal adoption. Some teachers, even in the larger medical colleges, openly advise against it. Some of the older practitioners claim that they have not time to learn it, but the general trend is certainly toward its general employment, at least by the better element of the profession.

If Latin could be discarded by all physicians, dentists, and pharmacists it would be in order to discuss the advantage and disadvantages of its use, but such concert of action is hardly to be hoped for at this time. The Metric system has been adopted in this country for fifty years. Its advantages are unquestioned, yet how far it is from universal employment. The individual is not so much concerned with the question of the general use of Medical Latin as with the proposition-Must he learn it ?

The particular school must face the proposition only-Must they teach it?

The following facts should be considered:

Nearly all medical books having the drugs arranged alphabetically, have them arranged according to their Latin names. For example, the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, U. S. Dispensatory, National Dispensatory, National Formulary, Useful Remedies (A. M. A.) and practically all Materia Medicas. Not knowing the Latin name it would be rather difficult to even locate a drug. Over 90 per cent. of the prescriptions in medical books are in Latin. For example, Anders, Ashton, Musser and Kelley, Keen, Gilliam, Stelwagon, Ruhrah, and most others. Without a knowledge of Medical Latin much of this would be valueless to the reader.

The vast majority of prescriptions in current medical literature are in Latin; even those in the Department of Therapeutics of the Journal of the A. M. A.

Excluding those calling for proprietary medicines, between 80 and 90 per cent. of prescriptions sent to drug-stores today are in

Latin. It might, at least, be rather embarrassing to meet other medical men in consultation.

As long as some use it, all must be familiar with it.

The pharmacist is taught Medical Latin. He regards it as the language of prescribing, and he certainly is favorably impressed by its proper use, and impressing the pharmacist is not to be overlooked.

The laity know that it is the usual language for prescribing, and far from resenting its use (as often claimed), they regard it as rather a hallmark of excellence.

Nearly all students (about 99 per cent.), on entering a medical college, have studied Latin. The matter to be learned has been greatly magnified, as an hour's study is all that is necessary to master 95 per cent. of the subject and enable a student totally ignorant of the language to correctly give the Latin names of 95 per cent. of all drugs.

Most Latin names of drugs are Latinized English; therefore either the whole name or the root is the same.

The English name of the drug has been made the Latin name, unless there is some reason to the contrary. When the words are the same except the terminations (as in alkaloids) definite rules apply, and a few simple rules cover the entire field.

The language of a modern prescription (in this country) is as follows:

Printed Heading, Date, Name Of Patient, Etc

English.

Names Of Drugs

Latin.

Directions To Druggist

Latin abbreviations.

Directions For Patient

English.

The Latin for the directions to the druggist consists of a few abbreviations that are as well known as Mr., Dr., N. Y., La., etc., are to a postmaster. Terminations are never used.

Therefore all the Latin necessary is the names of the drugs and the way they should appear on a prescription (Genitive case). This is enormously reduced by the use of abbreviations; for example, the class names as tincture, spirit, etc., and adjectives as compound, exsiccated, etc., are almost always abbreviated (Tinct. Gentianae Co.).

An analysis of English prescriptions shows almost as much poor construction as the Latin ones, and the student can probably learn to write one correctly as easily as the other. For example, we usually see Tinct. Gentian Co., when in English the adjective should be placed first. The employment of meaningless or undesirable synonyms is also only too common.

While a thorough knowledge of Latin is certainly desirable, it is not essential to correct prescription writing. The average Latin scholar, in taking up the study of this subject, has almost as much to learn as the one less fortunate. He should grasp it, however, with greater facility.

Leaving out the matter of declension and all else not absolutely necessary, the effort is made to give the reader all the essentials in a few paragraphs arranged on the supposition that he has no knowledge whatever of Latin.

An official Latin name is in the nominative case. The names of the drugs in a prescription are in the genitive case, as the prescription really is an order to the druggist; therefore, the following,

Ft. cap. xij.

would read:

"Take thou

Of the Sulphate of Quinine, one drachm.

Make twelve capsules."

In Latin the word of is not written, but the termination of the word to which it belongs is arranged to express it, as Quinina means quinine while quininae means of quinine.

The whole matter then resolves itself into knowing the Latin official names of drugs and knowing the change of termination that is necessary when ordering in a prescription.

Rules, Groups, and Exceptions.

Nouns that in the nominative end in a will in the genitive usually end in ae, as Quinina (nom.), Quininae (gen.).

Nouns with the nominative ending ma in the genitive add tis, as Physostigma (nom.), Physostigmatis (gen.).

Nouns that in the nominative end in us, um, or on, will in the genitive usually end in i, as Syrupus (nom.), Syrupi (gen.); Aconi-tum (nom.), Aconiti (gen.); Erythroxylon (nom.), Erythroxyli (gen.).