“... its action is that of chloral and the bromides minus their evil effects.”
Finally Bromidia becomes a simple bromid preparation. Thus an advertisement reads:
“Bromidia’s (Battle) Marked Sedative and Antispasmodic Qualities eminently fit it for the treatment of Maniacal Excitement, Epilepsy, Spasmodic Asthma, Convulsive Seizures of Reflex Origin, Sexual Neuroses, and other disorders attendant upon nervous irritability.
“Through its exhibition, the fullest therapeutic power of the bromides may be secured with a minimum of their evil effects; a feature of the greatest service when the necessity for continued treatment becomes necessary.”
In addition to the general invitation to use Bromidia in epilepsy and various nervous disorders, a circular also recommends its use in typhoid, a recommendation, which, if followed, may turn the scale in favor of a fatal result. The circular states:
“As a soothing agent in the extreme restlessness and irritability of typhoid fever and other infectious diseases, BROMIDIA (Battle) is a therapeutic weapon of definite service. Relief of the headache of typhoid may also be secured through the use of BROMIDIA (Battle). By means of its administration for the above purposes, the patient’s strength is conserved and as a result he is much better prepared to stand the force of the infection.”
Particularly vicious is the recommendation that it be given to children. Thus, in a pamphlet entitled “Effective Drugs Effectively Combined”:
“Another point of advantage to be found in bromidia is the ease with which it is borne by children. Owing to this tolerance, it is of distinct service in a considerable list of disorders of childhood. Thus, of course, employed with care and an understanding of its potency, bromidia has a field of usefulness in chorea, laryngismus stridulus, and whooping-cough. In other nervous disorders of childhood—those attending acute infections, for instance—bromidia is a definitely indicated therapeutic aid, owing to the soothing influence exerted by even a moderate dose and the absence of untoward effects. More specifically, the correcting influence of bromidia in the night-terrors of children may be mentioned.”
Formerly advertisements asserted that each fluidram of Bromidia contained:
| “Chloral hydrate | 15 | grains |
| “Potassium bromid | 15 | grains |
| “Extract of Cannabis indica | 1⁄8 | grain |
| “Extract of henbane | 1⁄8 | grain” |