Abstract
Bromine was discovered as a substance contenue dans l'eau de la mer by Balard in 1826. Its chemical similarity to iodine prompted its trial against glandular swellings, syphilis, and thyroid disorders . Although the bromide ion proved useless when thus used as a substitute for iodine, its sedative action was noted. (1) In 1838 Graf described the physiological and therapeutic uses of the bromides, and by 1853 they had proven clinically useful in epilepsy and neuroses, in spite of the fact that Lacock had advocated their use for their an- aphrodisiac activity rather than for their sedative properties. (2) The sedative action of the bromide ion was utilized by Behrend in 1864 to promote sleep, (1) Fifty years after its discovery, bromine was comprehensively reviewed in German by Krosz (1); a year later, in 1877, Seguin (2) discussed both the uses and abuses of this currently popular drug.