British National Formulary: its birth, death, and rebirth.

The British National Formulary is a direct descendant of the National War Formulary, in which the titles of the preparations were in Latin and the doses in minims and grains. The British National Formulary was born in 1948, did a good job for about 20 years, but sickened and died in 1976. It was reborn in 1981. Parturition was painful with a very hostile reception from the media and the drug industry, but it survived and has grown in stature. The 25th edition was published in February. Wish it well for the next 25 issues!