The physiological and therapeutical action of the bromide of potassium and bromide of ammonium / by Edward H. Clarke and Robert Amory.

  • Clarke, Edward H. (Edward Hammond), 1820-1877.
Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The physiological and therapeutical action of the bromide of potassium and bromide of ammonium / by Edward H. Clarke and Robert Amory. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

    142/196 (page 132)
    the intestine, shown by these effects, is probably caused by a diminished secretion from the mucous surface, by a diminution of the reflex sensibiHty and of the muscular contractility. This may be seen by its action on the pharynx and all the external portions of the mucous membrane. That this effect is not caused by the immediate contact of the drug may be known from the fact, that the injection of a weak or a strong solution of this salt into the rectum will create an irritation of the bowel, causing the evacua- tion of any fasces contained therein. I have heard of two cases of chronic constipation relieved by a dose of the bromide, and where have been taken large doses of the ordinary cathartics without producing an intestinal discharge; in other instances one or two doses * of the bromide have caused an evacuation of the bowels. These faeces, carefully and repeatedly analyzed, give no indica- tion of the presence of a bromide. In such cases the primary effect of the drug seems to be exerted upon the muscular fibres, inducing their contraction and thus causing an excessive peristalsis, from which there results, some- times, a violent expulsion of the fseces. When, however, the use of the drug is prolonged, this * In these cases, if the use of the bromide was continued for a longer time, the fseces gradually became more solid in character, and finally the bowels became constipated.