[PW] Re: "x" in Rx (prescription)

[Jeanne Schramm]

I'm not sure that she asked her pharmacist what "Rx" stood for. When she
asked me she specifically was interested in the "x."
Jeanne Schramm

On 9/18/06, Phalbe Henriksen <phenriksen at neflin.org> wrote:
>
> The Rx is short for "recipe." Your mother's pharmacist may want to go
> back to college.
>
> Phalbe Henriksen ~ pharmacist's daughter and sister
>
>
> At 09:23 AM 9/18/2006, you wrote:
> >     The patron here is my mother.  She is wondering what the "x" in "Rx"
> >stands for. She asked her pharmacist and he has no idea.  I have found
> lots
> >of opinions, but I would like to get something from an authoritative
> source.
> >The main opinions surrounding Rx seem to focus on: 1. Latin for recipe,
> 2.
> >Corruption of the symbol for the Eye of Horus, the Egyptian symbol of
> >healing and good fortune,   3. Corruption of the ancient symbol for the
> >Roman god, Jupiter.
> >     The R originally was an R with a slash through the extended tail
> (and
> >the x was used when moveable type came along).
> >     Does anyone have any information as to which of these theories is
> the
> >one accepted in the medical and pharmacological communities?  TIA
> >     Jeanne Schramm, WLSC, W. Liberty, WV   26074
> >_______________________________________________
> >Project Wombat
> >list at project-wombat.org
> >http://www.project-wombat.org/
>
>
>
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