Bromism: recent perspectives

The introduction of bromureides on a large scale in England and Australia has resulted in a major health hazard. Attention is directed to this problem so preventive measures may be taken in this country to discourage their marketing. We recommend that physicians acquaint themselves with the active ingredients of over-the-counter sedatives and cough medications and that they consider the potential risks involved before prescribing bromides in organic combination. We maintain that bromism is not a relic of the past but rather a serious problem in some countries and a potential one in ours. In addition to reviewing the present status of bromide intoxication in the United States and abroad, we report an atypical case of possible bromide intoxication from a water supply in a rural area of the Midwest United States. Because of reports of bromide intoxication in rural areas, we speculate that some of these cases may be secondary to contaminated water supplies.