Carbo veg. has a burning sensation in the chest that is much more pronounced that under Carbo animalis In Carbo veg. this burning has been likened to that from glowing coals (29) and it is especially noticeable “after the cough” (Dunham).
It is a remedy useful in asthma (19) of old people (21) who are debilitated, troubled with flatulence, etc., and especially when associated with blueness of the skin.
It may be indicated in a late stage of membranous croup and of pneumonia, with excessive dyspnoea, tendency to collapse and necessity to be fanned. In haemorrhage from the lungs (27) it is of value when we have burning in and oppression of the chest (29), the desire to be fanned and the cold skin.
This feeling that they must be fanned, so frequently found under Carbo veg. in states bordering on collapse, is not simply the desire for air (9), but they want it to blow on them. There is a sensation of impending suffocation and as they feel too weak to take a full inspiration, something must be done that will, seemingly, force the air into the lungs.
The heart is weak and the pulse weak and small and Carbo veg. is to be thought of in fatty degeneration of the heart (109), with cyanosis (207), cold sweat (114), tendency to haemorrhages and desire to be fanned.
It is a useful remedy for varicose veins (205) and for varicose and other low types of ulcers, with ichorous, corrosive discharges, burning pains, worse at night, and with purple discoloration of the surrounding parts (206).
It is of value in senile gangrene (82), in gangrenous degeneration of ulcers (82) and for the tendency to carbuncles to become gangrenous (82).
It is valuable in hectic fever from long lasting suppuration (183) and in other low types of fever, especially typhoid, with putrid discharges, offensive odor of the body, tendency to haemorrhages (193) and collapse and desire to be fanned. It is to be thought of in the third stage of yellow fever with haemorrhages (209).
There is sleeplessness at night in Carbo veg., or frequent waking, with coldness of the limbs and especially cold knees. In intermittent fever the coldness of the knees is a prominent feature. While the time of the onset of the paroxysm is not marked, we have a guiding symptoms during the chill, great coldness of the knees (121) and blueness of the finger-nails (121). During the chill there is thirst but during the fever there is none. The sweat is sour-smelling.
While it is useful for the bad effects of quinine (158), “China follows well after Carbo vegetabilis” (Lippe).
I use Carbo veg. 6th.
