Carboneum hydrogenisatum
Methane · Human-made/chemical
Carboneum Hydrogenisatum produces a state resembling apoplexy with coma, surface insensibility, and spasms like lockjaw, alongside the peculiar mental symptom of extraordinary contentment and mental clarity. It has an affinity for the respiratory and nervous systems, and its historical use in whooping cough by exposure to coal gas (which contains carburetted hydrogen as leading ingredient) gives it clinical relevance in spasmodic respiratory conditions.
Key symptoms
- Apoplexy-like state with stupefaction and coma; surface cold and insensible
- Spasm resembling lock-jaw; trismus interrupted by yawning
- Extraordinary sensation of contentment; all thoughts appear as if seen in an inner mirror
- Steady extreme oscillation of eyeballs synchronous with breathing
- Involuntary passage of stool and urine
- Whooping cough
- Arms flexed at elbows; lying as if dead, cold and pale
Worse (aggravation)
- Going into open air (vertigo and convulsions worse)
Better (amelioration)
- Open air (symptoms generally)
Carburetted Hydrogen
Symptoms resemble an apopletic attack. Spasm as in lockjaw. Trismus. Involuntary stools and urine.
Mind
Stupefaction. Extraordinary sensation of contentment. All thoughts appear in a moment as if seen in an inner mirror.
Eyes
Lids half closed. Oscillation of eyeballs. Pupils insensible to light.
Carburetted Hydrogen. Ethene. Olefiant gas. C2 H4. Solution in alcohol.
Clinical
Apoplexy. Eyes, convulsions of. Tetanus. Whooping-cough.
Characteristics
This gas, which was experimented with by Sir Humphrey Davy, produces a condition almost resembling an apoplectic attack. Stupefaction: comatose; surface cold and completely insensible. Spasm as in lock-jaw. Arms flexed at elbows. One mental symptom is peculiar: an extraordinary sensation of contentment, so that life seems exalted; all his thoughts appear in a moment as if seen in an inner mirror. Many eye symptoms were noted: steady and extreme oscillation of the eyeballs. Eyes distorted. Lids half closed. Dark bodies moving before eyes. > By open air (vertigo, convulsions). It is a popular custom to take children suffering from whooping-cough to breathe the air at a gas-works. A case has been recorded in which an accidental escape of gas in a child's bedroom affected a prompt cure of its whooping-cough. Illuminating gas is a complex gas, carburetted hydrogen being the leading ingredient. In the Schema are included some symptoms produced by illuminating coal gas.
Classical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
