POTASSIUM BROMIDE, KBr.
Introduction
First proved by Drs. Hering and Hermerdinger, of Germany, in 1838.
Symptoms
Kali brom., like other potash salts, weakens the heart and lowers the temperature. The chief interest, however, lies in the “Bromism” caused by it and produced by the bromides generally, the seat of which is in the spinal cord or the nerves leading to the brain cells.
In bromism we find intellectual weakness, with general failure of mental power, especially loss of memory and of words, and melancholia, anaesthesia of the skin and mucous membranes, especially of the eyes and throat, acne, loss of sexual desire and power, imbecility, idiocy.
Bartholow gives the following s “the symptoms of bromism. as observed in an epileptic boy, to whom two drams of the bromide of potassium had been administered daily for a month; extreme pallor and anaemia, dilated pupils, acne on face, forehead and shoulders; a fetid, bromine breath; slow and feeble action of the heart; breathlessness and quickened pulse on slight exertion; cold hands and feet; a general subjective sense of coldness;…. diminution of the tactile sensibility of both cutaneous nd muco;us surfaces fauces dry,… antaphrodisia and complete relaxation of the genitals; mind weak, manifested in silly conduct and unmeaning laughter.
This is the picture, differing only in degree, of the effect of the bromides, and while you may some day feel obliged to give it in its physiological dosage, I doubt if you will ever be willing to take it yourself or to administer it to anyone that you are fond of until you have exhausted all other means of relief.
Allen tells us that “it is doubtful whether the drug really cures true epilepsy; it certainly suppresses the convulsions for a time, in many cases, but it does not seem to remove the constitutional tendency to their recurrence; nearly all cases of epilepsy are obliged to continue taking the drug, often in increasing doses, in order to obtain its palliative effects” (66)
Dr. Jos. T. O’Connor, after speaking of the difficulty of curing epilepsy, says: “Homoeopathic treatment applied according to the method of strict individualization will show a far greater percentage of cures than will the bromide or opium treatment, or combination of both, or any other drug or aggregation of drugs.”
Kali brom. is useful in cerebral anaemia (90), with cold extremities, drowsiness or complete coma and dilated pupils; in brain-fag (93), with a numb feeling in the head (91) or a feeling as if he would lose his reason; and in loss of memory (133), a kind of aphasia where words and syllables are forgotten and omitted (18).
It is to be thought of in melancholia, with irritability and weeping, and in religious melancholia (131), with delusions, one of which may be, that he is singled out for Divine vengeance.
Remember it in night-terrors of children (81), with screaming in sleep and trembling and unconsciousness of what is going on about them. It may be indicated in acute mania, with feat of being pursued (53), or with hallucinations of sight or sound; also in suicidal mania (183).
Kali brom. produces anaesthesia of the throat and one old- school author (quoted by Bartholow) says that “passing a spoon as far back as the epiglottis, without causing attempts at vomiting, is an indication of the successful action of the remedy.”
We can think of it in anaesthesia of the throat, when due to the use of alcohol. Hering speaks of a difficulty in swallowing liquids that calls for this remedy, as follows: “Children, from time of birth, can swallow solids with ease, yet choke every time they try to drink,” but as a usual thing, movements of deglutition are intact even with the anaesthesia.
Kali brom. has been used in diabetes (56), with impaired memory, dryness of the mouth and skin, paleness and emaciation.
It is of value for the after effects of excessive sexual indulgence (167) or self-abuse (168), especially with impaired memory and melancholia, or with impaired co-ordination, numbness and tingling in the limbs.
It is of value for cystic tumors of the ovary (147) or broad ligament, and for neuralgia of the ovaries (147), with great nervous uneasiness.
In pruritus of the vagina (156) Kali brom. is to be thought of when the intense irritation causes great sexual desire, even an actual nymphomania (146).
“Among the effects of this salt are diminished cutaneous sensibility and papulo-pustular lesions, known as `bromic acne'” (Dearborn), and it is of value for acne (14) at time of puberty, or as the result of masturbation, or, according to Deschere, “acne where the patient’s health otherwise is excellent.”
I use Kali brom. 3d.
