It is a common plan in large dispensing establishments to use duplicate numbers for the dispensing department. A certain number is given to the person ordering the medicine, and a corresponding one is attached to the prescription, so as to guard against the possible occasional delivery of the wrong medicine.

Another method of carrying out the same precaution is to attach to the prescription, and then to the finished medicine, a printed form, something like this:

The advantage of this was demonstrated in the case of a messenger who, having wasted several hours on his errand and delivered the medicine after the patient had died, pretended that he was detained by the pharmacist, but his false statement was refuted by a label like the above.

Another good method is the use of a small adhesive label, marked 'Immediate 'in very bold type, as here shown. This is placed outside the parcel in the most prominent position, so that it cannot fail to catch the eye of the messenger and of the person to whom the medicine is delivered at the house. This label should only be used for parcels of special urgency and those promised for delivery at a certain hour.

A more elaborate plan is to have a series of coloured tickets to attach temporarily to prescriptions, and ultimately to the parcels containing the medicines, so that dispensers, finishers, packers, and countermen may be guided by them. A scheme like the following is used in one of the largest British dispensing departments:

Crimson, implying urgent precedence, so as to dispense and despatch as quickly as possible.

Green, implying to be called for.

Yellow, implying despatch by own messengers.

White with scarlet crossbar, implying despatch by first parcel-post.

Each of the tickets bears the name of the customer and brief directions as to delivery. Another good idea is to attach a small label to each box, bottle, pot, etc, initialed by the dispenser, and also by the checker, previous to wrapping it up and sending it out. Thus:

Dispensed by A. B. Checked by C. D.

The advantages of this plan are (1) probability of detecting any serious blunder, and (2) checking by a superior acts as a deterrent to slurring the dispensing in any way.