PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE BROMIDE OF AMMONIUM. 87 
tiinute; the breathing quiet and tranquil; the membrane of the fauces was 
secreting a transparent fluid, and there was no congestion. The symptoms 
were allowed to subside sua sponte. The salt was readily detected in the 
urine the first and subsequent days, and also in the saliva. In four days 
sensation had returned in the upper mucous tract, and then in the lower. 
Some natisea and anorexia remained for a week or ten days, and he regained 
his normal condition. All his powers were wholly unimpaired. 
Exp. 7.—Precisely similar steps were followed out with the bromide of 
potassium in a man aged 42 in good health, but the general results were by 
no means similar as affecting sensation. It was impaired, and slight anes- 
thesia was produced in the fauces. Yet the stupor was not so great, but 
headache was a prominent symptom, subsequently followed by giddiness and 
derangement of the digestive organs. 
Estimating the power of the two agents, the ammonium salt appeared to 
be more active, and produced the peculiar effects of bromine quicker than the 
potassium salt. 
In Experiments 6 and 7, four drachms of the respective salts were taken 
each day for three days, equivalent to 13 ounce. In the following the 
quantity was increased. 
Exp. 8.—A young man, aged 23, ruddy complexion, health good, voice 
weak, was given half a drachm every hour for twelve hours, beginning at 
seven in the morning. It was regularly taken with a drachm of the tincture 
of cardamoms to each dose. By the seventh dose, nausea and headache were 
produced ; these were lessened by the ninth, and at the tenth stupidity and 
drowsiness were manifest. When the twelfth was taken, intoxication 
seemed to be present, with incoherency of speech. It was difficult to say 
whether there was complete anxsthesia from the man’s condition, but he 
seemed to feel nothing, and the conjunctive could be touched with the end 
of the finger without winking. Pricking of the skin was not felt each time 
it was done. Breathing was slow, and the pulse fifty-two, quite regular. 
He slept very sound that night, and the next few days he felt giddy and 
confused, with impaired sensation of the mucous membrane of the fauces 
for two or three days, but recovered well. The quantity taken in twelve 
hours was six drachms. 
Exp. 9.—The same experiment was repeated in a female of 32, in fair 
average health. Nothing particular was observed whilst taking the drug 
beyond a little pallor, and reduction of the pulse from eighty to sixty-four. 
At night she felt more drowsy than usual, and faucial sensibility was dimi- 
nished. After a sound sleep of some hours during the night, she awoke 
with a furred tongue and offensive breath, and some nausea. On the third 
day the catamenia set in very profusely, and continued for some days. In 
the foregoing experiment, and also in Exp. 8, the bromide was readily detected 
in the urine. — 
Exp. 10.—Male, aged 78, in good general health, but seldom sleeping at 
night, was given ten grains twice a day for four days, then fifteen grains for 
six days, aiid then twenty grains for twelve days. The digestive functions 
continued good throughout, and the pulse remained constantly at seventy-six, 
regular, and with the hardness of old age. His strength was considerably 
increased, but no other change occurred deserving of note. He was a thin 
spare man. 
Exp. 11.—Twenty grains were given to a female aged 27 twice a day for 
fourteen days, without any inconvenience beyond losing flesh, and impaired 
sensibility of the throat. 
