DERIVATION.--Sodium bromide may be obtained in the same manner as
potassium bromide, sodium hydroxide being used in place of potassium
hydroxide.
PROPERTIES.--It occurs in colorless or white, cubical crystals, or a
white, granular powder, odorless and having a saline, bitter taste. The
salt absorbs moisture from the air without deliquescing. Soluble in one
and seven-tenths parts of water and in twelve and a half parts of
alcohol.
ACTION OF POTASSIUM AND SODIUM BROMIDE.--They are distinguished
depressants of the cerebral and spinal functions, also hypnotic,
anaphrodisiac, antispasmodic and alterative. The bromide of potash, like
all other potassium salts, is especially a cardiac and muscular
paralyzant. They are very diffusible and slowly eliminated; long
continued doses produce gastric catarrh. They reduce the number of
respirations and the heart’s action and force; lessen activity of brain
cells, producing sleep; diminish sensibility of peripheral nerves,
causing anesthesia of the skin and mucous membrane.
USES.--The bromides, being particularly useful in the treatment of
functional nervous diseases, do not possess nearly the value in
veterinary medicine that they have in human practice. Consequently their
use is limited mainly to canine disorders, as bromides have little
influence upon diseases of horses. They are sometimes used as sedatives
to the nervous system, to lower reflex activity, to produce sleep, to
subdue excitement of the genital apparatus and to antagonize congestion
of the brain. Used extensively in fits of dogs, twenty or thirty grain
doses of the bromide of potash or bromide of soda dissolved in a
tablespoonful of water; may be used per rectum if necessary in any
convulsive or spasmodic condition. In strychnine poisoning, the bromide
of potash may be used as an antidote in place of chloral hydrate or
conjoined with it.
DOSES.--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 oz.; sheep and pigs, 2 to 4 dr.; dogs,
5 to 60 gr.; average dose, 20 gr.