PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE BROMIDE OF AMMONIUM. 89 
nished, beyond the mere fact that death would have ensued from almost any 
quantity, as in Dr. Glover’s experiments with the sister salt, the bromide of 
potassium. Nor have I destroyed one single life, nor caused a pang of misery 
to any dumb creature,—not that I disapprove of such experiments if impera- 
tively demanded by the exigencies of science. 
In some of the foregoing experiments it will be observed that whilst large 
doses, frequently repeated, produced certain specific results in the majority 
of persons, in some these were comparatively slight, depending most pro- 
bably upon some idiosyncrasial influence, antagonistic to the bromine salt. 
The skin is seldom devoid of sensation, unless large and poisonous doses are 
persisted in; the same may be said of the gastro-intestinal tract of mucous 
membrane, which I infer to be equally in a state of anesthesia from insen- 
sibility to pressure over the abdomen, and the presence of anorexia. Two sets 
of nerves are evidently influenced, those of special sensation, and some of the 
branches of the sympathetic supplying the intestinal mucous tract; why this 
should be so I shall not undertake to explain, but the fact is patent that the 
entire mucous tract of the body is more or less affected in sensation by large 
and continuous doses. The respiratory tract I also infer to be included in 
this, from the subsidence of any irritation giving rise to cough or spasm; no 
impediment to breathing has ever been noticed. 
It may not be out of place to mention here that the sister salt, bromide of 
potassium, is given at the hospital for epilepsy and paralysis in London, in from 
ten to twenty, and sometimes thirty grains, three times a day, as I learn from 
Dr. Jackson, one of the physicians. He further informs me that the patients 
there have not been observed to get notably thinner, nor has he noticed any 
special symptoms after the use of the salt, beyond the alleviation of their 
maladies, 
Effects on Atheroma, Cholesterine, and Fat in the general economy.—Whe- 
ther,given in small, frequently repeated (two to five grains thrice a day), or 
in moderately large, less frequent doses (five to ten or fifteen grains once to 
three times a day), a distinct influence was noticed upon the various agents 
which more or less constitute the adipose element throughout the body—a 
result that at first was quite unexpected upon my part. 
Various degrees of rotundity, increasing to positive corpulence or poly- 
sarcia, in persons otherwise in good health, yet in whom there was a decided 
and positive indication of excess of atheroma and cholesterine in the system 
as manifested by the presence of the atheromatous expression*, were sensibly 
affected according to the period of administration, the dose, or the combina- 
tion of the drug with a certain moderate dietetic regimen. 
Of some five-and-thirty cases, in which corpulence may be said to have been 
present in various degrees, in all, with some five or six exceptions, did the 
bromide of ammonium exert a decided effect in diminishing weight and im- 
proving the general comfort. That is to say, when this agent was persisted in 
for some months, and in doses of three or four grains twice or three times a day, 
several pounds in weight were gradually lost, and the individuals seemed to get 
thinner ; nevertheless the general health continued unimpaired, or improved 
_ still further under its use, the adipose development became decidedly less, the 
secretion from the oily sudoriparous glands, seen in a shining face, was modi- 
fied and diminished, and altogether there was an improved appearance in the 
countenance, which the persons themselves were fully sensible of. But when 
the diet was moderately regulated, and the drug given in the mornings only 
before breakfast, the reduction in weight was more speedy, more decided and 
* For a doscription of this, see a paper by the author in ‘ The Lancet’ of May 12, 1860. 
