BROMIDES 309 



cubical, odourless crystals, which have a pungent saline taste ; 

 soluble in two parts cold water, and in two hundred parts of 

 rectified spirit. Horses receiving about an ounce, or dogs 

 45 grains, become listless, exhibit muscular feebleness, un- 

 steadiness of gait, impaired reflex movements ; the pulse is 

 feeble, respiration slowed, rectal and cutaneous temperatures 

 are diminished, and secretion of urine increased. Some of 

 these effects, notably cardiac and muscular depression, how- 

 ever, are possibly due in part to the potassium rather than 

 to the bromine. In addition these salts develop the usual 

 ' salt-action,' and so vomiting, diuresis, and sometimes 

 diarrhoea may occur. In animals receiving repeated full 

 doses of bromides, mechanical irritation of the cortical 

 substance of the brain fails to produce epileptic convulsions 

 (Brunton). From the lessened movement induced there 

 may be a fall of temperature. Full doses continued for 

 some time induce bromism, a form of chronic poisoning, 

 characterised by depression of the cerebral faculties, in- 

 creased secretion from the mucous glands, feebleness, 

 anaemia, and wasting, dilatation of the pupils, and eczematous 

 eruptions produced as portions of the drug are excreted 

 through the skin. Toxic doses kill by asphyxia. 



Potassium bromide is used in nervous disorders to allay 

 excitement and relieve spasm, and thus indirectly may pro- 

 duce sleep. It alleviates and wards off epileptic convulsions 

 in dogs, whether connected with distemper or other cause, 

 and is serviceable in violent cases of chorea. It has no 

 constant or decided influence in controlling the spasms of 

 tetanus in horses. Kaufmann records that Vogel gave nine 

 horses suffering from tetanus three to six ounces daily 

 without moderating the spasms. It is of little use in 

 asthma, sometimes checks persistent vomiting, and has 

 considerable anaphrodisiac effect. It is occasionally used 

 with digitalis to quiet cardiac excitement. Sodium bromide 

 only differs in not producing the depressant effects on the 

 heart and muscles which potassium bromide may induce. 

 Strontium bromide has the advantage of disturbing diges- 

 tion less than potassium bromide. Hydrobromic acid has 

 the same bromide action as the salts, but is irritant locally. 



DOSES, etc. Of potassium bromide horses and cattle take 





