Various bromine salts or bromides were discovered during the second half of the 19th century to have calming effects on the central nervous system.
By the end of the century, they were widely used both for specific indications like epilepsy, convulsions, and insomnia, and even for "general nervousness".
[3] Sodium bromide was used in remedies such as Bromo-Seltzer that were popular for headaches and hangovers, in part due to the sedative effects.
[4] In April 1906, the American humorist Gelett Burgess published an essay in The Smart Set called "The Sulphitic Theory".
Or, The Sulphitic Theory Expounded and Exemplified According to the Most Recent Researches Into the Psychology of Boredom: Including Many Well-known Bromidioms Now in Use.