Simple formula for bromoform-and chlorofo•m mixture:— Bromoform, 18 grains. Chloroform, S minims. Rum, 4 fluidounces.
Whereas alcoholic solutions of bromo form precipitate in excess of water, this mixture with chloroform does not pre cipitate, no matter what are the propor tions of water present. Gay (Jour. of Med. of Bordeaux; La Sem. Med., No. Il, 1900).
Two cases of bromoform poisoning; the children found lying side by side, with breath smelling strongly of bromo form, with faces pale, eyes closed, pupils contracted, and limbs flaccid. Artificial respiration, brandy and strychnine hypo dermically administered, and lavage with hot water and hot coffee brought con sciousness in about one and one-half hours. Stokes (Brit. _Med. Jour., May 26, 1900).
Case of bromoform poisoning in a girl. aged 6 years, who took 1 V, drachms of pure bromoform. Patient became un conscious. There was no pulse at the wrist, the heart was beating very irregu larly about 120 per minute. the respira tions were very shallow and about S per minute, the face and lips were livid, and pupils were pin-point and did not react to light. Lavage with sodium bicarbonate solution, then Condy's fluid, followed by strong coffee and sal vola tile both by tube and per rectum were efficient means of treatment. T. Brown Darling (Brit. Med. Jour., June 2, 1900).
Bromol has a peculiarly disagreeable, pungent odor, and a sweetish, astringent, but not unpleasant taste, and, as may be imagined from its derivation, is power fully antiseptic. It is unfortunate it should have secured a designation that is likely to cause it to be confounded with bromal. It has been employed both externally and internally, but definite data are lacking regarding physiological properties when introduced into the liv ing economy. Bearing in mind its source, it should, for the present at least, be regarded as a drug demanding great caution in its employment. It is said to be excreted by the kidneys as tribromphenolsulphuric acid.
Poisoning by Bromides.—It has re peatedly been denied that bromides per se ever induce fatalities, but the evidence already deduced is proof sufficient of their dangerous character. Careful ex
amination of literature also reveals the fact that fatalities are, by no means, of infrequent occurrence, and the sus picion is forced that many deaths that should have been ascribed to the toxic action of bromides have been ignored or mistakenly ascribed to the malady for which the drugs were prescribed.
Ha mea u reports case of a young woman who took four and one-half pounds of bromide during ten months. and while in a condition of caebexia with yellowish skin, copper-colo•ed eruption on forehead, colic, gastralgia, etc., suddenly became greatly pros trated; had delirium with profuse :sweats, followed by death in four days. IL C. Wood ("Principles and Practice (:f Then." '94).
Case of a woman who took five pounds of potassium bromide in less than a year, and, while having very pronounced symptoms of brominism, was seized with delirium and suffered from hallucina tions of sight and hearing; declared she was being poisoned. Death followed. Eigner (Wiener med. Presse, Nos. 23-34, '96).
A number of deaths can only be ex plained by the inordinate use of bro mides. The patients sink into a condi tion of apathy from which they cannot be roused. Have seen three autopsies and have knowledge of five more wherein the excessive use of bromide salts gave rise to fatality. Janeway (Amer. Medico-Surg. Bull., May 16,'96).
Bromoform, owing to its ldnship with chloroform, is an active toxic and its ad ministration should be carefully watched.
In bromoform poisoning attention must chiefly be given to the heart and lungs. The heart is stimulated by in jections of ether and camphor. As re gards the respiration, the head should overhang, the mouth be kept open, the tongue drawn forward, and the mucus cleared out of the larynx. Artificial respiration and faradization of the phrenic nerves should be adopted. There is no specific antidote. Borger (Munch. med. Woch., May ]9, '96).