Is it true that Rx is the short term for prescription and if so then why?

redsoxfan325

This source says it came from the symbol of the Eye of Horus. When Horus fought Seth (who had murdered his father), Seth cut out Horus's Eye. Thoth, however, restored the eye, enabling Horus to defeat Seth. The Eye became a symbol for good health, and it was placed at the top of prescriptions to "ward off" the harmful properties of the prescription ingredients. Over time, the Eye became the Rx symbol (due to its resemblance). http://www.endomail.com/articles/ad13rx.html Oct 02 08, 4:24 PM

zbeckabee

There are various theories about the origin of this symbol - some note its similarity to the Eye of Horus, others to the ancient symbol for Jupiter, both gods whose protection may have been sought in medical contexts. Alternatively, it may be intended as an abbreviation of the Latin "recipe", the imperative form of "recipere", "to take or take thus", and it is quite possible that more than one of these factors influenced its form. Literally, "Recipe" means simply "Take...." and when a medical practitioner writes a prescription beginning with "Rx", he or she is completing the command. This was probably originally directed at the pharmacist who needed to take a certain amount of each ingredient to compound the medicine, rather than at the patient who must "take" the medicine, in the sense of consuming it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_prescription Oct 02 08, 5:56 PM