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ISSUE 2 APRIL
Letters to the Editor

The eye of Horus

  • Peter J. Mack

The Editorial Executive Committee welcomes letters, which should be less than 250 words. Before a decision to publish is made, letters which refer to a published article may be sent to the author for a response. Any letter may be sent to an expert for comment. When letters are published, they are usually accompanied in the same issue by their responses or comments. The Committee screens out discourteous, inaccurate or libellous statements. The letters are sub-edited before publication. Authors are required to declare any conflicts of interest. The Committee's decision on publication is final.

 

Letter to the editor

Editor, – The crossing of the leg on the letter R (of recipe) comes from the pagan diagonal cross, which was then an invocation to the God Jove for good fortune.

The action of forming the cross was adapted by the early Christian Church for both public and personal ceremonial. The personal form has also passed down to us in the form of crossing fingers for good luck - and as a talisman against evil spirits.

For the early physicians with phytomedicinals of doubtful value, crossing the R on their prescriptions was all too often a genuine and heartfelt request for good fortune.

Peter J. Mack
Dental Surgeon
Perth, W.A.

Peter J. Mack

Dental Surgeon, Perth, W.A.