Removal of bromine from the blood in cases of mental disorder

Abstract

The rate of removal of Br from the blood, after intraven. injection of NaBr, is independent of the mental state (exps. on 10 patients and 3 normal subjects). Hence variations in the resting blood Br levels, found in both normal and psychotic cases, cannot be attributed to differences between the rates of removal of Br from the blood into the tissues. Similar results are reported after oral treatment (9 patients. 1 normal subject). Bromine appeared in the gastric juice in concn. higher than that in blood, while during digestion blood Br fell. Secretion of Br into the gastric juice probably plays some part in determining the normal level of blood Br.