Bromine

a non-metallic element. It was obtained from sea water in 1826. At low temperatures it is a reddish-black liquid, but at 63 deg. F. it is converted into a heavy red vapor. The liquid is about 4.5 times a heavy as water. It has a salty taste but no odor. Bromine is a caustic. It turns starch yellow. Like chlorine, bromine has bleaching properties. In medicine bromide of ammonium is administered for whooping cough and infantile convulsions. This bromide is considered useful in nervous diseases generally. Bromide of potassium is given for sleepless-ness, epilepsy, hysteria, delirium tremens, and various swellings, tumors, and diseases of the skin. Overuse is followed by stupor, loss of speech, and of memory.