Lithium bromatum

Volume I — Special Symptomatology

{Lithium Bromidum.)

Pharmacology. — This salt may be made by adding to a solution of iron and bromine in water an excess of the Carbonate of Lithia, filtering to separate the oxide of iron, and concentrating.

It is a very deliquescent salt; is soluble at 32° in .7 its weight of water.

Officinal Preparations.— Aqueous tincture; ( 3 i to 3 ix.)and dilu tions to the 3 x with distilled water.

Analogues. — Bromides of Potassa, Ammonia, and Soda, Chloral hydrate, Belladonna, Conium, Opium.

° Threatened apoplexy, or cerebral congestion, with or without hemorrhage. A gentleman who had had one attack, and was in consequence hemiplegic, was taken with vertigo, headache, numbness, and thickness of speech. One dose of thirty grains removed the symptoms in less than half an hour! (Dr. S. W. Mitchell observes that it acts quicker than the other bromides.)

° Epilepsy. When the Bromide of Potassium loses its effect, or disagrees, the Lithium salt arrests the paroxysms.

° Epileptic fit every morning on rising; (cured by ten grains twice a day.)

° Relieved a case in which any prolonged mental exertion flushed the face, caused intense pain between the shoulders, and insomnia.

0 It removes obstinate sleeplessness more promptly and surely than the other bromides.

Skin.

It does not cause the acne, eruptions, and skin-ulcers of the other bromides.

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

Dr. S. Weir Mitchell prefers this salt to the other Bromides, in that it does not cause eruptions, and that its action is far more speedy. He gives a case of a gentleman threatened with apoplexy, who had had one attack and was hemiplegic. He was taken with numbness, vertigo, headache, and thickness of speech ; one dose of 30 grains removed the symptoms in less than half an hour. He also records a case of epilepsy, when a fit occurred every morning, on rising. Cured by 10 grains twice a day. When the other Bromides lose their effect in epilepsy this salt will arrest the fits.

It relieved a case presenting the following symptoms : after any prolonged mental exertion, flushed face, insomnia, and intense pain between the shoulders.

If I was to prescribe any Bromide in rheumatism and gout, I should prefer this on account of the Lithia which it contains.

BROMIDE OF MERCURY.

I have used this preparation in a few cases of diphtheria , with great painfulness of the inner throat, white deposit, and a dusky redness of the fauces and tonsils. It acts very satisfactory in the 3X trituration. Dr. Hildreth (an oculist) was enthusiastic in its praises in iritis and intense congestion of the tissues of the eye.