"Prescription: A physician's guess at what will best prolong the situation with least harm to the patient"

This quote by Ambrose Bierce is a commentary on the practice of medication. It suggests that a doctor's prescription is an educated guess at what will best assist the patient, while lessening any prospective damage. Bierce indicates that a doctor's prescription is not a specific science, but rather a computed threat. He indicates that a physician needs to weigh the potential advantages of a treatment against the prospective risks, and make an informed decision based upon the patient's private needs. This quote likewise recommends that a doctor's prescription is not a warranty of success, but rather a finest guess at what will help the patient. Eventually, Bierce is recommending that a physician's prescription is a calculated threat, and that the physician must make an informed decision based on the patient's private needs.