Colorless, transparent crystals or white, granular powder, odorless and having a saline, slightly alkaline taste. Freely soluble in water (1:2.8) and almost insoluble in alcohol. ACTION AND USES: Mild alkali; similar to sodium bicarbonate, but without advantage over the latter. DOSAGE: 1 Gm. or 15 grains (U.S.P.). _Liquor Antisepticus Alkalinus (Liq. Antisept. Alk.), Alkaline Antiseptic Solution, N.F._--Potassium bicarbonate (3.2%), sodium borate (3.2%) and sodium benzoate (0.8%) with thymol, eucalyptol, oil of peppermint, methyl salicylate and cudbear in alcohol, glycerin and water. USES: Of slight value as antiseptic, but a pleasant cleansing gargle. =*Potassi Bitartras (Pot. Bitart.), Potassium Bitartrate, U.S.P.= (Cream of Tartar). Colorless, slightly opaque crystals or white, somewhat gritty powder, odorless and having an acidulous taste. Only slightly soluble in water (1:155) and very slightly soluble in alcohol (1:8,820). ACTION AND USES: Diuretic and aperient. Frequently administered in combination with jalap as a hydragogue cathartic. See _Pulvis Jalapae Compositus_ under =Jalapa=. DOSAGE: 2 Gm. or 30 grains (U.S.P.). =*Potassii Bromidum (Pot. Brom.), Potassium Bromide, U.S.P.=--KBr. White crystals or granular powder, odorless and having a strongly saline taste. Freely soluble in water (1:1.5); slightly soluble in alcohol (1:250). ACTION AND USES: Nerve sedative; diminishes reflex excitability and depresses the motor area of the cortex. Similar to sodium bromide, but more likely to disturb digestion. DOSAGE: 1 Gm. or 15 grains (U.S.P.); preferably administered by itself in simple dilute solutions; increased if necessary. Long-continued administration should be interrupted occasionally to prevent bromism and accumulation in the system. _Elixir Potassii Bromidi (Elix. Pot. Brom.), Elixir of Potassium Bromide, N.F._--Potassium bromide (17.5%) in syrup, water and aromatic elixir; may be colored with compound tincture of cudbear. Absolute alcohol content about 7.5 per cent. DOSAGE: 8 Cc. or 2 fluidrachms (N.F.). _Sal Potassii Bromidi Effervescens (Sal Pot. Brom. Eff.), Effervescent Salt of Potassium Bromide, N.F._ (Pulvis Potassii Bromidi Effervescens, N.F. III).--Potassium bromide (16.6%), sodium bicarbonate (53%), tartaric acid (20.4%) and citric acid, the last-named three yielding sodium citrate and sodium carbonate. DOSAGE: 6 Gm. or 1-1/2 drachms. _Sal Potassii Bromidi Effervescens Compositus (Sal Pot. Brom. Eff. Co.), Compound Effervescent Salt of Potassium Bromide, N.F._ (Pulvis Potassii Bromidi Effervescens cum Caffeina, N.F. III, Effervescent Potassium Bromide with Caffeine).--Caffeine (0.8%) and potassium bromide (8.3%) in a mixture of sodium bicarbonate (58.7%), lithium carbonate (4.2%), tartaric acid (18%) and citric acid. (Yielding citrate and tartrate of lithium and sodium.)