Epilepsy is one of the complaints in which it has been much employed. Attention was first called to it as a remedy in this disease by Sir Charles Locock, who was very successful with it in a number of cases. Having, however, observed that it was especially useful in cases connected with derangement of the uterus, he rather hastily inferred that it was through its peculiar influence over the sexual functions that it proved useful in this complaint. But this idea was disproved by subsequent experience, from which it appeared that the medicine was equally effectual in males as in females. It is to Dr. C. B. Radcliffe that the credit is due of giving this extension to the remedy. (Lancet, March 10, 1866, p. 250.) Several other practitioners have given their testimony in favour of the bromide in epilepsy, among whom may be mentioned Drs. Sieveking, of London, S. W. D. Williams, of Southampton, J. Crichton Browne and James Begbie, of Edinburgh, Brown-Sequard, and in this country, Dr. Horace Y. Evans, who gives an account of two cases that appear to have been cured. {Am. Journ. of Med. Sci., Jan. 1867, p. 134.)

Dr. Brown-Sequard states that, in the treatment of cases in the London Hospital for Epileptics, he and his colleague, Dr. Ramskill, had at first tried 10 or 12 grains three times daily with unsatisfactory results; and it was not till they had increased the dose to 20 grains or more three times in 24 hours, that they had obtained the best effects from the remedy. (Lancet, March 10, 1866, p. 250.) The fact appears to be that, as a general rule, it is only in the more recent cases of functional epilepsy, before the morbid habit has been established, and in those cases of epileptiform disease which approach in character to the hysterical, or depend on some fugitive disorder of system, that a cure can be expected from the medicine. In established cases, connected probably with organic changes in the encephalon, though inadequate to cure, it often exercises a happy influence in diminishing the number of the paroxysms, and otherwise vol. ii.-26 improving the condition of the patients. Dr. Williams had under care 37 epileptic patients in the Lunatic Asylum of Southampton. These were allowed to remain for five months without treatment, and then, for the succeeding five months, were put on the use of the bromide, each taking 10 grains twice a day. Not one was cured; but generally they were considerably improved. Of the whole number, 19 were males, who during the period when they took no medicine had 1025 fits, when under the use of the bromide 706; the remaining 15 were females, in whom, under the same circumstances, the fits were reduced from 1127 to 970; a diminution of 306 for the males, and only 157 for the females, though with a larger number. From that it may be inferred that, if sex have any influence, it is in favour of males rather than of females; at least as regards the confirmed cases of the disease.

Chorea. it might be supposed that this is one of the complaints in which bromide of potassium would be most successful, and in which, therefore, the remedy would have been most extensively employed. This does not, however, seem to be the case; and it yet remains to be determined what is its real value in that disease. A case of it seems to have been cured or much benefited in the hands of M. (Gubler. {Ed. Med. Journ., Feb. 1865, p. 745.)

Hooping cough. There can be little doubt that bromide of potassium would prove useful in this complaint; as its properties are essentially the same as those of bromide of ammonium, which is stated to have been very successfully employed in its treatment. (See Bromide of Ammonium.)

Hysteria is the complaint to which, in almost all its vast diversity of disorder, the bromide appears, through its nervous sedative properties, to be peculiarly adapted. This disease consists essentially of a morbid irritability of the nervous system, exhibiting itself in various forms of irritative excitement; and this is the very condition which affords the strongest indication for the characteristic powers of the medicine. Hence, in many hysterical disorders, bromide of potassium acts with the greatest energy and promptitude. Convulsive movements, whether general or local; spasms of particular parts, as of the face, the oesophagus, the bladder, urethra, etc.; colicky pains; palpitation of the heart; hurried or otherwise disordered respiration, sometimes imitating the asthmatic paroxysm; all kinds of hyperesthesia, whether of the special senses, as of sight, hearing, touch, etc., or general sensibility, as neuralgia of every grade, with its diversities of tingling, crawling, itching, prickling, etc.; and all other simple functional derangement, as restlessness, sleeplessness, general uneasiness, mental excitement, impulsive feelings and actions; all of these symptoms, and many others that might be mentioned of a purely hysterical character, often yield to the bromide with the greatest facility. Many of these nervous disorders often also give way to this medicine, even though unconnected with hysteria.

Insomnia or sleeplessness. There is perhaps no morbid phenomenon in the treatment of which bromide of potassium enjoys a higher credit, or has been more employed than in this. I have myself tried it in two instances of morbid wakefulness, in full doses, but without any observable effect. Yet the evidence is so strong in favour of its occasional efficacy, that it is impossible to deny it the possession of the property claimed for it, without an unwarrantable scepticism as to the reliability of testimony. it is in no degree strictly a soporific medicine, like opium and other stimulant narcotics; and, in the doses in which it relieves morbid insomnia, it has no obvious effect on the healthy system. it operates simply by relieving, through its sedative powers, the state of nervous irritation on which the want of sleep depends. it promotes sleep, therefore, simply by correcting the state of system by which the insomnia is occasioned. Even thus restricted, however, it is a very important remedy. in some instances of insomnia, it seems to act like a charm, not only relieving the disorder temporarily, but effecting a permanent cure. it may be given either in moderate doses, a little before bedtime, and repeated every half hour or every hour till it produces the desired effect, or its insufficiency is demonstrated; or it may be given two or three times a day in reference to a permanent effect. in the first case, 20 grains may be given at once, and half the quantity afterwards at the proper interval; in the latter, from 20 to 25 grains may be administered morning and evening, or morning, noon, and night, and continued for several days. The first notice of this property of bromide of potassium belongs probably to Dr. Berend, though Dr. Garrod had previously stated that in large doses it produces drowsiness (Lancet, May 28,1864); cases in which it was used effectually were afterwards reported by Drs. Percy and Debout; Dr. J. Crichton Browne found it successful in eight out of twelve cases (Ed. Med. Journ., June, 1865, p. 1084); M. Lasegue states that he has often used it in persons with disordered intelligence, and nearly always with evident benefit (Arch. Gén., Juil. 1865, p. 81); Dr. James Begbie has known it often to produce sleep when narcotics had failed, especially in the insomnia of convalescence from acute disease, and that occurring after surgical operations (Ed. Med. Journ., Dec. 1866, p. 481); and at present its hypnotic property, under circumstances of nervous excitement, is universally recognized.