Bromine,
a non-metallic element. Bromine has been applied externally as a caustic, but rarely. Its chief officinal preparations are bromide of ammonium, useful in whooping cough, infantile, convulsions, and nervous diseases generally; and bromide of potassium, now very extensively used, especially in epilepsy, hysteria, delirium tremens, diseases of the throat and larynx, bronchocele, enlarged spleen, hypertrophy of liver, fibroid tumors, etc. Also, as an antaphrodisiac, for sleeplessness, glandular swellings, and skin diseases. Its alterative powers are similar to but less than those of the iodides. It has a pungent saline taste, no odor, and occurs in colorless cubic crystals, closely resembling the iodide. As a hypnotic its usefulness is much increased by combining it with morphia or chloral hydrate.
Entry from Everybody's Cyclopedia, 1912.