In the 19th century, sexual activity, particularly excessive masturbation, was considered to be one of the most important causes of epilepsy. In 1857, Sir Charles Locock, obstetrician to Queen Victoria, reported dramatic seizure improvements in 18 women who suffered from "hysterical epilepsy" (most probably catamenial epilepsy) after they had received potassium bromide to quell their sexual appetite.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the National Hospital in London used almost 2 tonnes of bromide per year. Potassium bromide was often added to bread dough. In Norway, patients at Oslo University Hospital's National Centre for Epilepsy were given bread with potassium bromide additives as late as in 1960.
Unfortunately, there were significant side effects associated with potassium bromide, often referred to as bromism: sedation, mental dullness, dribbling, ataxia and acne ("bromoderma"). The fact that patients had their libido quelled in addition to experiencing an improvement in their seizures, was seen as evidence that the sex hypothesis was correct.
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