The Prescription Archives

A collection of handwritten prescriptions from the golden age of medicine.

Hospital Prescription for Strychnine Nitrate Tablets

06/14/2026 No Comments

Prescribing Doctor: UnknownPatient Name: UnknownPharmacy: St. Francis Hospital Date: Undated Location: Litchfield, Il Transcription ℞ ℞ Strych. Nit. 1/40 gr.Sig: Tablet every 3 hrs Interpretation The medication prescribed was strychnine nitrate, a

Handwritten prescription from Dr. Nicholson, Brenham, Texas, listing pepsin, dilute muriatic acid, strychnine sulfate, glycerin, and Elixir Lactopeptin

Digestive Tonic Prescription – Pepsin, Dilute Muriatic Acid, Strychnine, and Elixir Lactopeptin (Dr. Nicholson, Brenham, Texas)

10/30/2025 No Comments

Prescribing Doctor: Dr. NicholsonPatient Name: Mrs. P. C. PetersonPharmacy: Theo. Schirmacher, Druggist — Brenham, Texas (N.E. Corner Court House Square)Date: Undated (likely early 1900s) Transcription ℞ Pepsin Acid. Muriatic dil.

Handwritten prescription from Dr. W. F. Hasskarl for iron and strychnine tonic, Brenham, Texas, circa 1915.

Iron and Strychnine Tonic Prescription — Dr. W. F. Hasskarl, Brenham, Texas (c. 1915)

10/15/2025 No Comments

Prescribing Doctor: Dr. W. F. HasskarlPatient Name: Mrs. O. A. SewardPharmacy: Theo. Schirmacher, Druggist — Brenham, TexasDate: Undated (estimated 1910–1920)Location: Brenham, Texas Transcription ℞ Strych. Sulph. gr i Ferr. Dialysat.

Handwritten antique prescription for Chalk Mixture by Drs. Garner & Swanton, Traverse City, Michigan.

Prescription Archives Entry: Chalk Mixture (Mistura Cretae)

09/30/2025 No Comments

Prescribing Doctor: Drs. Garner & SwantonPatient Name: Not listedPharmacy: Not specified (office above First National Bank, Traverse City, Michigan)Date: Aug. 23, 1902Location: Traverse City, Michigan Transcription ℞ Chalk Mixture 3

Vintage prescription for Baby Finkler’s baby powder, compounded from camphor, starch, and zinc oxide.

Vintage Baby Powder

09/11/2025 No Comments

Prescribing Doctor: Dr. NicholsonPatient Name: Baby FinkePharmacy: Theo. Schirmacher, DruggistDate: Undated (estimated 1900–1910)Location: Brenham, Texas Transcription ℞ Pulv. Camph. — 6 parts Pulv. Amyl. (powdered starch) — 32 parts Pulv.

Handwritten antique prescription for Elixir of Iron, Quinine, and Strychnine, dispensed 4 ounces with directions to take 1 dram three times daily before meals.

Prescription for Mrs. Umlon

08/28/2025 No Comments

Prescribing Doctor: Dr. O.E. ChasePatient Name: Mrs. UmlonPharmacy: S.E. Wait Pioneer DrugstoreDate: Undated (estimated 1900–1910)Location: Traverse City, Michigan Transcription ℞Elix. Ferri Quinine et Strychnine ℥ivSig: ʒj t.i.d. before meals Interpretation

Every scribble tells a story. These are real prescriptions, written by hand, from a time when medicine was more art than algorithm