Carbo Vegetabilis

[vegetable charcoal.]

For medicinal purposes we select charcoal derived from beech or birch wood ; hard pieces evenly carbonized, in which the texture of the wood may still be recognized, are carefully pulverized ; of this

660 CARBO VEGETABILIS.

pulverized charcoal we afterward obtain our triturations in the pro- portions of 1 to 10, or 1 to 100.

Vegetable charcoal has been employed by old school physicians as a disinfectant in dysentery, foul ulcers, fetor of the mouth, etc. It removes for a while the unpleasant odor, which returns as soon as the chemical effect of the charcoal is exhausted. By triturating charcoal with sugar of milk, the inherent medicinal power which, as Altschul justly remarks, is latent in the crude drug, is excited into action and may become of incalculable value as a therapeutic agent. Nevertheless I am of the opinion that the curative range of charcoal is much less extensive than Hahnemann's provings would seem to imply.

We may embrace this range in the following concise state- ment :

Charcoal seems to act upon the blood and to restore its vitalizing purity ; upon the nervous system, whose sinking energy it rouses ; and upon the mucous membranes, whose secretions it purifies.

CEREBROSPINAL GROUP.

Hahnemann's provings have shown that the vegetable charcoal is capable of producing a certain form of headache which is not dis- tinguished by intensity and yet is sufficiently characteristic to lead us to infer that its origin and development as a pathological state depend upon the presence of some constitutional dyscrasia or miasm. A more careful examination of the symptoms enables us to recommend vegetable charcoal in

HEADACHE depending upon the existence of a scorbutic or psoric diathesis in the organism. This headache is delineated in Hahnemann's record by the following symptoms : Vertigo as if the head was balancing to and fro. Dullness and tightness of the head, as after intoxication, spreading from the occiput to the forehead. Headache involving the right side of the head and face (with chilli- ness, coldness and trembling of the body and jaws) ; also headache, with pain in one eye as if it would be torn out.

Dull and oppressive headache, in the occipital region. Pressing ache in the forehead, close above the eyes. Pressure in both temples and at the vertex. Headache as if the scalp were contracted.

Violent headache for five days ; when stooping, a pressing was felt through the back part and front part of the head. Rush of blood to the head, with heat in the forehead and dullness of the head. Throbbing headache. Press- ing and burning headache, in the evening, in bed, especially from the vertex to the forehead.

General painfulness of the surface of

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the brain, here and there with stitches darting from without inward. Drawing and tearing in the left side of the occiput, also in the fore- head, Red, smooth and painless pimples here and there, on the forehead. The hair falls out.

HEMICRANIA is very fully shadowed forth in this series of prov- ings. The headache to which carbo vegetabilis is homojopathic probably never occurs without an accompaniment of such gastric derangements as require the same drug for their removal. In such headaches the patient will probably complain of an altered taste in the mouth, bitter or sour, impaired appetite, tendency to nausea and eructations, heartburn, fulness and repletion of the stomach, bloating of the bowels, costiveness. Caspari has given charcoal with good effect, if the headache was accompanied with determination of blood to the head, and had been caused by overloading the stomach and drinking wine to excess.

ORBITAL GROUP.

SORE EYES. — An examination of the pathogenetic effects of our drug shows that it is indicated in sore eyes, if the eyes look inflamed, or if only one eye is affected and looks swollen, red, is painful and the lids are agglutinated in the morning ; the patient complains of indistinctness of vision and is troubled with muscae volitantes. These are the leading symptoms recorded by Hahnemann as the result of his provings.

HEMORRHAGE In a case of haemorrhage from the eyes, reported in the Allg. Horn. Zeitung, with considerable determination of blood to the head, carbo is said to have effected a cure.

Such haemorrhages, and indeed haemorrhages from any organ where vege- table charcoal manifests curative results, are of a passive order, arising from a general scorbutic tendency of the organism. Whether this agent may be employed in amblyopia amaurotica with good effect, will have to be determined by further experiments. The muscae volitantes, the blurred vision and the shortness of sight which this drug is said to produce, indicate its use in the milder forms of amblyopia ; but here, too, it will be found that this agent is princi- pally adapted to the scorbutic diathesis.

DENTAL GROUP.

SCORBUTIC AFFECTIONS.— Carbo causes drawing and tear- ing pains in the upper and lower row of teeth ; the gums incline to bleed, feel sore, become detached. These symptoms have led

662 CARBO VEGETABILIS.

homoeopathic physicians to the employment of carho in scorbutic affections, such as may be occasioned by the excessive or otherwise improper use of mercury. This condition of the gums may likewise be a symptom of constitutional scurvy.

Vegetable charcoal is extensively used as a tooth-powder; it is said to strengthen the gums, to remove scurvy and the fetid odor which sometimes proceeds from a scorbutic degeneration of the gums.

CHYLO-POIETIC GROUP.

Dryness and framing in the throat. Painful pressure in the region of the fauces. Scraping sensation in the throat. Inability to swallow food ; the throat is closed as by a spasm, but without pain. The throat feels swollen internally, and as if it were closed by a spasm. Sore throat,- painful deglutition for four days, as if the uvula were swollen.

SORE THROAT. — These symptoms indicate charcoal in chronic sore throat, especially when accompanied by bronchial and gastric irritations. Owing to the antiseptic properties of this drug, it has likewise been employed in angina gangrsenosa, and in the aphthous form of angina, or the diphtheritis of Bretonneau when of a chronic nature.

DYSPHAGIA — Two of the above-mentioned symptoms likewise point to dysphagia, not so much when consequent upon previous in- flammation, but as a symptom of general disintegration of the digestive powers.

Charcoal develops a variety of symptoms in the functional range of the stomach and intestines, which point to its use in several gastric disorders which, if not dangerous, are at least tormenting and require the interference of art. We find the following record in the materia medica pura : Saltish or bitter taste in the mouth. Empty, sweet- ish or also bitter and scraping eructations. Diminished appetite and speedy repletion.

Nausea and qualmishness in the stomach, an hour after waking. Painful hiccough after eating. Sour taste in the mouth after eating. Heaviness in the legs, every afternoon after dinner, for eight days.

Crampy pains in the stomach, with continual eructations which tasted quite sour. Burning sensation in the stomach. Scraping sensation from the stomach upward along the oesophagus, like heartburn. Throbbing in the pit of the stomach.

Oppression and anxiety in the pit of the stomach. Pressure in the stomach as if upon a sore, worse when touching the part. Extreme

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sensitiveness of the region of the stomach. Contractive or con- strictive sensation under the pit of the stomach.

We consider this record perfectly reliable and avail ourselves of it for the purpose of recommending charcoal in actual derangements of a corresponding nature.

PYROSIS or heartburn, more especially of the chronic order, and when complicated with other gastric symptoms, such as eructations, weight and fulness at the stomach. after eating.

WATERBRASH, the fluid having an insipid, saltish or sour taste.

DYSPEPSIA and cardialgia, with oppression at the stomach after eating, flatulent distention of the stomach and bowels, soreness of the epigastrium, spitting up of frothy mucus, belching up of wind, crampy pains in the epigastric region, oppressed breathing in con- sequence of the fulness and oppression in this region.

Charcoal acts very powerfully upon the alvine secretions. It causes : Rumbling in the bowels, with emissions of inodorous or hot and fetid flatulence ; it also causes papescent stool with burning at the anus and in the rectum during the passage of stool. Scanty and hard stool which does not cohere, and is likewise accompanied with burning at the anus. Pricking in the rectum during stool.

During the first week of the proving the alvine evacuations were preceded by mucus, which was followed by hard and afterward soft feces, and finally a cutting pain in the bowels. Loss of blood at every evacua- tion from the bowels. Painful varicose swellings at the anus. Dis- charge of a smarting dampness from the rectum.

Exudations on the perineum from the anus to the scrotum, with itching and soreness.

D1ARRHCEA. — Charcoal may be indicated in chronic diarrhoea with great flatulence, discharges of fetid flatus without relief; chronic diarrhoea of infants, with stools of a cadaverous odor ; diffi- cult expulsion of stool, even of soft stool ; cutting and burning at the anus. Collapse.

DYSENTERY with similar symptoms and cold breath, cold skin, terribly offensive stools as symptoms of collapse.

CHOLERA in the last stage, after the cessation of violent general symptoms and collapse (cold breath, cold tongue, cold skin, stupor) has set in.

HAEMORRHOIDS. — Our provings show that charcoal must be possessed of curative virtues in some forms of haemorrhoids, with habitual constipation, loss of blood at stool, protrusion of painful

664 CARBO VEGETABILIS.

varicose swellings. This agent may likewise prove of use in those annoying

EXCORIATIONS or exudations of the perineum and anus, which sometimes prove so refractory even under the most careful treatment.

URINARY AND SEXUAL GROUPS.

Hahnemann's record shows that charcoal affects the sexual appa- ratus in a sufficiently marked manner to enable us to determine the homoeopathicity of its action to several more or less troublesome affections. Hahnemann reports: Violent itching of the prepuce, the inner surface of which was sore, a vesicle had started up. Tingling in the testes and scrotum. Itching and dampness of the thigh near the scrotum.

Soreness of the pudendum, as if excoriated, with leucorrhoeal discharge for two days, followed by the appearance of the catamenia, which had been suppressed for months ; the discharge looked quite black. Premature appearance of the menses. The menses were accompanied by headache which was .so violent, that she had to close her eyes, and by cutting pains in the bowels. Discharges of white mucus from the vagina.

These symptoms indicate car bo in

EXCORIATIONS OF THE PREPUCE, when not arising from mechanical irritation, with itching, and perhaps complicated with herpetic eruptions. Carbo may likewise help in similar affections of the scrotum.

PRURITIS. — The burning and itching of the vulva, which is described as pruritis or prurigo, may find a remedy in charcoal. Altschul cured an obstinate case of this disorder by exhibiting char- coal internally in the 6th attenuation, and applying the same prepar- ation externally in the form of an ointment made with fresh butter. The disorder may be complicated with herpetic eruptions on the parts. In

LEUCORRHCEA this agent may do us good service. The dis- charge may consist of white mucus, or it may be a thin, watery, sanguinolent discharge, causing much itching and burning and hav- ing a foul smell. In

DYSMENORRHEA or painful menstruation, with premature appearance of the discharge, which looks black and has a strong ammoniacal odor, cutting, spasmodic pains in the bowels, charcoal seems indicated ; some cases are reported in Stapf's ArcMv., where charcoal proved highly useful.

PASSIVE METRORRHAGIA may require carbo; the blood has

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the above-described character, looks dark, has a foul smell; the affection is symptomatic of a general scorbutic state of the system. PUTRESCENCE OF THE UTERUS has been cured by the exhibition of charcoal. The totality of symptoms must justify the use of the remedy; of particular importance will be the burning in the uterine region; discharge of offensive, dark blood from the uterus ; characteristic diarrhoea; anxious expression of the coun- tenance ; symptoms of collapse.

RESPIRATORY GROUP.

The action of carbo upon the respiratory organs is characterized by a variety of symptoms, such as: Hoarseness, also sudden hoarseness in the evening with dyspnoea, so that he was scarcely able to breathe when walking in the open air. Scraping in the throat morning and evening, inducing a dry, hacking cough. Irritation in the larynx, inducing cough, with gagging. Three or four turns of spasmodic cough every day.

Exhausting cough, with oppression of breath- ing and burning in the chest. Expectoration of mucus from the larynx, after hawking or coughing. Discharge of whole clots of greenish mucus. Painful drawing in the chest, shoulders and arms, more on the left side, with a feeling of heat and rush of blood to the head; she feels cold.

Violent stitches under the left breast, even when sitting, and preventing sleep. Violent, almost continued burn- ins: in the chest as from hot coals. Sensation as if the blood wrere rushing to the chest, accompanied with a feeling of coldness in the body. Frequent and excessive palpitation.

Spasmodic oppression and stricture on the chest. Difficulty of breathing and throbbing in the head, in the evening when lying in bed. Weak and tired feel- ing in the chest; sticking in the chest.

These provings show that carbo has a comprehensive action upon the mucous lining of the respiratory apparatus. It is more particu- larly in chronic affections of these organs that it has evinced curative or palliative virtues of a high order. We find it adapted to

CHRONIC HOARSENESS where carbo has been used with success by Caspari and others ; the hoarseness abated on warm days and wras worse in damp and cool weather ; it was likewise aggravated by loud or continuous talking, exposure to the least draught of air, and was complicated by a distressing tickling in the throat, loss of appetite, lassitude and a general feeling of malaise. In

LARYNGEAL PHTHISIS, and in chronic bronchitis, carbo may either palliate the distressing cough or prepare the way for a cure.

666 CARBO VEGETABILIS.

The cough is spasmodic and paroxysmal, and results in the expecto- ration of foul, greenish pus.

HAEMOPTYSIS. — In chronic haemoptysis carbo, in the higher potencies, has been given by Hartmann with good effect, especially if the raising of blood was attended with a burning in the chest. Haemoptysis, as a symptom of tubercular phthisis, is beyond the reach of this" drug; the raising of blood must depend upon degener- ation of the mucous surfaces and scorbutic alteration in the venous capillaries.

In the dyspnoea of hydrothorax Kuckert was able to palliate the patient's distress by means of carbo, and Lobethal gave it with good effect in suffocative asthma, with icy coldness, bluish color of the skin and violent precordial anguish.

Our symptoms show that carbo may effect a favorable change in neglected pneumonia, when the expectoration has assumed a green- ish color and has a foul smell; in such a case, even incipient gan- grene of the lungs may indicate, and perhaps be arrested by carbo ; the expectoration may have a liver-colored appearance, with a very fetid smell.

PNEUMONIA. — In chronic pneumonia, with expectoration of black blood, soreness and stitches, or burning distress in the affected portion of the lungs, dyspnoea, constant hacking, or paroxysms of an exhausting and spasmodic cough, carbo may render efficient service.

PHTHISIS, in its last stage, often presents symptoms which call for charcoal. The cough is hard, followed by the expectoration of yellow, purulent and offensive sputa; great prostration; hippocratic face; collapse. Important concomitant symptoms also point to carbo, as: Tendency to start, when walking or during sleep, throbbing in the head, anxious feeling, as though apoplexy were impending, greatly increased sensibility of vision and hearing.

SWEATY FEET. — In connection with these symptoms, we may observe that charcoal causes a burning and copious perspiration of the feet. Carbo has proved very efficient in curing sweaty feet, the sweat having a bad smell.

FEVER GROUP.

According to our proving, carbo causes cold feet, chilly creepings, shuddering ; it also causes the opposite condition of heat, especially at night, in bed.

INTERMITTENT FEVER.— Carbo veg. is indicated in inter- mittent fever, the chill beginning in the left hand and arm ; cold_

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ness'of the body and cold breath. Heat without thirst, with head- ache, flushed face, vertigo, nausea; oppressed breathing. Profuse, sour, putrid sweat; sweats easily and is easily chilled. Tongue coated with white, yellow fur, dry, fissured, lead-colored, cold and contracted. Aversion to meat and fat things. Weak, irregular pulse. During apyrexia: gastric symptoms, flatulence. Pernicious fever.

TYPHUS PUTRIDUS.— When the ulcerative stage is fully devel- oped, the tongue and lips have a dry and blackish appearance, are cracked, bleed, with frequent diarrhoeic discharges, tympanitic disten- tion of the abdomen, sensitiveness of the ileo-coecal region, charcoal is used with good effect.

YELLOW FEVER — Oarbo vegetabilis is recommended by Platon, Townsend and more especially by Archer in the last stage of yellow fever, the stage of black vomit ; it is said to diminish the irritability of the stomach, to render the evacuations inodorous, to cause the removal of the morbid matter by the rectum and to improve the intestinal secretions.

exanthemXtic group.

Our provings do not point to carbo as a remedy for acute erup- tions, and Hahnemann was fully justified in ranking this agent among the antipsorics which are particularly adapted to chronic diseases.

Charcoal causes a painful sensitiveness of the scalp, and itching and crawling sensation in the scalp, falling off of the hair.

These symptoms may lead us to suspect the curative virtues of charcoal in some forms of tinea capitis, more especially in those forms which secrete a foul-smelling ichorous pus forming crusts and now and then mingled with blood. In

INVETERATE HERPES, charcoal, prepared in the form of a watery solution, has effected a cure when all other means seemed fruitless. Ebers prepares the water of charcoal as follows: One pound of pure pulverized charcoal is made red hot in an iron vessel, and, in this state, is poured into a porcelain vessel containing two or three pounds of distilled water ; this mixture is allowed to cool, and then filtered.

SCABIES. — We use charcoal in scabies when the eruption is dry and fine, almost over the whole body, worst on extremities ; itching worse after undressing ; characteristic dyspeptic symptoms. Also in the various forms of

ULCERS arising from lymphatic degeneration, and characterized

668 CARBO VEGETABILIS.

by foul, fetid discharges and a tendency to haemorrhage. If neces- sary, the finely-pulverized charcoal may be used both externally and internally.

SENILE GANGRENE with coldness and purple appearance of the parts.

BURNS In the case of burns, whether caused by fat, oil or boiling water, Seidel has used the finest pulverized charcoal with the most admirable results. After puncturing and emptying the blisters, he covers the injured part with a layer of charcoal of about a quarter of an inch in thickness, and keeps this in place by means of a light bandage. In half an hour the pain begins to decrease, and in a few hours it is entirely gone ; the burn heals without suppuration and without any cicatrix.

If the powder should be found moist, it is re- moved very gently, and dry powder substituted in its place.

VALUE OF CHARCOAL IN CASES OF POISONING.

Pulverized charcoal is used as an enveloping agent in cases of poisoning with arsenic. Bertrand swallowed five grains of pul- verized arsenic mixed with a cupful of charcoal and sugar made into an emulsion, without experiencing any poisonous symptoms, save a little cramp-pain in the pit of the stomach, which soon passed off. He also gave a young dog six grains of arsenic in butter on an empty stomach. Half an hour later there was vomiting of mucus, streaked with blood, with severe retching.

Sweetened char- coal water, administered by the stomach, relieved all the symptoms in a very short time. The same experimenter gave a six months old dog six grains of corrosive sublimate in butter ; within fifteen minutes symptoms of poisoning set in, which were at once lessened in inten- sity and soon wholly removed by charcoal tea. Dr. Bertrand himself took on the empty stomach four grains of the corrosive sublimate in a cupful of a sweetened, strong decoction of vegetable charcoal ; in twenty minutes he experienced a slight uneasiness with oppression in the praecordial region, with a little warmth in the stomach ; one hour later some thirst, which was not satisfied ; in two hours he was per- fectly well and ate a hearty breakfast.

Professor Mitchell mentions a case of poisoning with arsenic, which occurred in Cincinnati and where the lives of four persons were saved by administering charcoal by the mouth, in water and molasses, and water and milk, as fast as it could be taken; it was also administered by injection.

The best medicinal charcoal is obtained from linden-wood ; beach and birch likewise yield an excellent article.

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