- 82 REPORT—1863, 
In an excellent essay by Dr. R. M. Glover (at one time a resident in 
Newcastle and afterwards in London), published in the Edin. Med. and 
Surg. Journ. for October 1842, there is a list of the diseases in which either 
bromine or some one of its preparations has been employed, but amongst 
the latter the bromide of ammonium is not mentioned. 
The salt hitherto, it may be said almost solely, in use has been the bro- 
mide of potassium, considered by many physiologists analogous in its effects 
to the iodide of the same base, only that it is slower in its action. The persons 
whose names are deserying of mention in relation to the potassium salt, are 
the late Dr. T. Williams of London, who found it of great benefit in enlarged 
spleen; Pourché, who treated bronchocele and scrofula with success; and in 
a number of cases of pseudo-membranous disease, including a few of croup, 
M. Ozanam found it of especial value, Cancer is another disease successfully 
treated with it by Mr. Spencer Wells, in doses of five to ten grains three 
times a day, with cod-liver oil (Med. Times, July 1857, p, 31). 
In the course of its use M, Huette observed that anesthesia of the fauces 
was a result which its administration caused; and this circumstance, at first 
looked upon as objectionable, I have endeavoured to turn to account, as a 
physiological result of extreme value and importance in the practice of medi- 
cine, either in examinations of the throat and nostrils, or for the perform- 
ance of operations upon either, or in the interior of the windpipe from above, 
by means of the laryngeal mirror, 
To effect this object the bromide of potassium was freely given internally 
in large doses, but it failed to bring about this result, unless in a very few 
instances, its action varying according to the idiosyncrasy possessed by the 
individuals experimented upon, Its local action, although perhaps a little 
more certain and decided, was not to be relied upon. 
On looking through the other salts of bromine, none seemed likely to 
possess more of the anesthetic power than that of potassium; haying had 
some experience, nevertheless, of the reliable yalue of the preparation known 
as the iodide of ammonium, it struck me that the analogous substance (bro- 
mide of ammonium) might prove more efficacious than the potassium salt, 
from the union of bromine with a base of great power, ready absorption, 
exerting a decided influence upon the fluidity of the blood, and moreover 
the remedy for poisoning by bromine, as recommended by Mr. Alfred Smee, 
namely ammonium, I was not aware at the time that it was employed for 
photographic purposes, probably more or less impure, but had the salt care- 
fully prepared for my experiments by Messrs. Fincham of Baker Street, 
London. 
The bromide of ammonium when pure is perfectly white and amorphous, 
with a feeble odour of sea-weeds. Under the microscope the salt is clear 
and transparent, and not crystalline nor deliquescent. It can, however, be 
crystallized in cakes or quadrangular prisms. It possesses a slightly pungent 
saline taste, not so sharp as that of common salt, nor so acrid as the bromide 
of potassium. 
Agreeably to the request of the General Committee, I have performed a 
large number of experiments since bringing the subject before the Association 
last year at Cambridge, but the present Report combines the whole of the 
more important of my experiments from the first use of the salt, and from 
which are deduced its physiological and therapeutical properties. 
In pursuing this inquiry, the salt has been administered in small doses at 
interyals more or less long-continued, in large doses frequently repeated or 
given at intervals, and in single daily doses. A comparison is also instituted 
