11 



CAHBON. 



CARBONATE. 



U 



el the pore* of the charcoal, for the gases are not at all absorbed 

 in the ratio of their affinity for carbon, but generally according to 

 the facility with whkh they are condensed ; and tin.- it is that 

 charcoal absorbs vapours more readily than gases, and liquids than 

 either. 



Dr. Stenhouse has recently shown that these effect* of dtMsrfatfM 

 and diimfceUm are due to the combustion of foetid and noxious sub- 

 stance* which is effected within the pone of the charcoal at the 

 expense of the oxygen which exist* there in a highly condensed state. 

 Dr. Stenhouse has successfully taken advantage of this valuable 

 property, to construct respirators of charcoal for the purpose of pre- 

 venting the access of noxious gaseous matters to the lungs, or con- 

 vener/, in ease* of foul breath to hinder the patient from tainting the 

 emospheie around him. The same chemist also proposes the employ- 

 ment of charcoal for purifying the atmosphere of hospitals, sick- 

 rooms, ftc. 



Charcoal is highly combustible ; it burns in the air when strongly 

 hostod, though not very rapidly; during this combustion carbonic 

 acid is formed by the union of the oxygen of the air with carbon. 



It has been mentioned that charcoal is not pure carbon, and when a 

 quantity is burnt there always remains a portion of ashes, containing a 

 considerable quantity of carbonate of potash and some other alkaline 

 and earthy salts, which have been token up from the soil in which the 

 tree grew that furnished the charcoal. 



Charcoal is used not merely for combustion, but also for the import- 

 ant purpose of making gunpowder. It is also applied to other various 

 well-known uses. Carbon unites with all the elementary gases to form 

 highly-curious and interesting bodies. Its inorganic compounds with 

 oxygen are treated of under CARBONIC Aero and CAHIIUMC OXIDE ; 

 with chlorine, CHLORIDES or CARBON ; and with nitrogen, Cv.v 

 It combines also with sulphur to form bisulphuret of carbon, and it 

 enters into the composition of several ternary compounds. Carbon 

 enters into the constitution of all organic bodies, as wUl be seen from a 

 reference to the formula! of such bodies, which will be found described 

 under their respective names. 



CARBON, in an impure state, or charcoal, is employed medicinally, 

 both internally and externally. Its power of absorbing gases and 

 moisture renders it useful in some cases, while in other cases it seems 

 to act by some power exerted on the vital energies of the system. A 

 few grains of vegetable charcoal taken into the stomach cause a feeling 

 of warmth and comfort in that organ, followed by a slight increase of 

 the heat of the body generally. A considerably larger dose will 

 occasion vomiting, and even diarrhoea. Charcoal, especially animal 

 charcoal, possesses the power of destroying the colour, smell, and taste 

 of a great variety of vegetable and animal substances, particularly of 

 mucilages and oils, and of matters in which extract ire abounds. 

 Recently prepared charcoal, especially animal, has been recommended 

 as an antidote in poisoning by aconite and other alkaloids. Allowed 

 to remain in contact with valerian, galbanum, balsam of Peru, or 

 musk, it destroys their characteristic odour and properties. 



Meat and game, too far decomposed, may be restored to a condition 

 fit for use by the employment of finely powdered charcoal, assisted by 

 sulphuric acid. Water also may be restored from a tainted state by 

 filtering it through charcoal. The interior of water-casks is charred 

 in order to preserve the water in a pure state. Leeches, fish, &c., live 

 better in water kept in charred vessels than in those of any other 

 kind. 



Charcoal, both from ita antiseptic and vital properties, is useful in 

 many form* of fever, especially the bilious, remittent, and inter- 

 mittent fevers of warm climates, given during the interval of the 

 vomiting of the black matter ; and in yellow and typhoid fevers. It 

 is also serviceable in dyspepsia, accompanied with fetid breath and 

 eructations. It U sometimes of service in ulcerations of the tongue 

 and fauces, connected with depraved digestion. It is likewise useful 

 in obstinate constipation, given in doses of two or three dessert- 

 spoonfuls every half-hour, or each hour, for a period of perhaps 

 eighteen hours. In smaller doses it has been found useful in 

 dysentery, where the motions are acrid and very offensive. Externally 

 it is a beneficial application to foul ulcers, applied cither in the form 

 of fine powder, or a* a cataplasm ; but chloride of soda or lime are 

 better applications. Persons who are troubled with excessive and 

 troag-mnelUqg perspirations of the feet find the inconvenience lessened 

 by sprinkling the inside of their stockings with fine-powdered recently 

 prepared charcoal. Finely powdered charcoal may also be employed 

 a* a styptic. Charcoal, especially that procured from the cocoa- 

 nut, forms, along with either prepared chalk, rhatany-root, kino, or 

 catechu, perhaps the best tooth-powder which can be employed when 

 the gum* are spongy and the breath fetid. A liniment of charcoal is 

 sometime* useful in herpes, ringworm of the scalp, and other cutaneous 



from the flesh and bones 

 three or four times a day, 

 ironic enlargements of the 



Animal charcoal, particularly that ] 

 of calves, given in the do*e of a few L 

 U said to be very efficacious in removing < 



Carimtit arid gat, in a state of concentration, act* upon the human 

 lystem as a powerful sedative poison. Unless largely diluted with 

 atmospheric air, it cannot be breathed, a* U stimulates the glottis, or 

 entrance to the windpipe, to contraction, which causes the person 



exposed to this gas to die of suffocation. But even when so far 

 diluted as to be able to pass the glottis, and enter the lungs, it acts 

 as a poison ; and also when brought in contact with the skin (pure 

 atmospheric air being breathed at the same time), or with the mucous 

 membrane of the stomach. A variable quantity of carbonic acid gas 

 exists at all time* in the air, as essential to the respiration and the 

 life of plant* ; but any considerable increase of this quantity is dele- 

 terious, and destructive to ttte life of both animals and vegetable*, 

 though plants will flourish in an atmosphere containing nine or ten 

 per cent, of carbonic acid gas, provided they are exposed to the 

 direct solar light, for this quantity is poisonous to them in the shade. 

 (SausBure.) The cause of the absence of vegetation in the celebrated 

 poison valley of Java is the existence of a subterranean source of 

 carbonic acid gas, and not the shade of the upas-tree, as is popularly 

 believed. 



Carbonic acid gas is evolved from the combustion of fuel, especially 

 charcoal, and during the process of fermentation ; also from the 

 coloured parts of the flowers of plants, both by night and day, and 

 from the green parts of plants during the night ; from the calcination 

 of lime; and it is apt to be formed and accumulate in mines, par- 

 ticularly coal-mines, where it is termed chulce-damp, and in old draw- 

 wells, and in the famous OroUo <M Can, It also is formed or extricated 

 by the respiration of animals, and becomes the source of disea- 

 death when many human beings are crowded together in close, ill- 

 ventilated rooms. 



When in such a state of concentration as not to pass the glottix, it 

 produces instant suffocation, and if the person be not immediately 

 removed from the obnoxious atmosphere, death ensues. But where 

 it is diluted with atmospheric or other respirable air in sufficient 

 quantity to be inhaled for a considerable time, symptoms closely 

 resembling apoplexy are produced. This last casualty is most apt to 

 occur from sleeping in a room with a charcoal fire, which has not a 

 proper outlet for the gas, or in a green-house with plants, or even 

 with a few flowers in a bedroom, above all from lime-kilns and 

 brewers' vats. 



When from any of these causes an individual has fallen into a state 

 of stupor or insensibility, he is to be removed as speedily as possible 

 into the pure fresh air, cold water should be dashed upon the face, 

 ammonia may be rubbed upon the chest, and, if conveniences exist, 

 he may be caused to breathe oxygen gas. Blood, but in moderate 

 quantity, should be attempted to be procured from the arm or jugular 

 vein, and efforts to effect this may be persevered in for hours with 

 ultimate success. 



Carbonic acid gas, diluted with a proper quantity of atmospheric 

 air, has been advantageously employed, applied to limited portions of 

 the body. Largely diluted, it has been recommended to be inhaled in 

 the latter stages of phthisis pulmonalis, or consumption, to lessen the 

 irritability, and remove the fetor of the breath arising from the 

 morbid expectoration. It is in such cases merely a palliative. 

 Children with hooping-cough ore sometimes taken close to lime-kilns 

 to breathe the carbonic acid gas a very hazardous custom, as is also 

 sleeping near lime-kilns for the warmth. When brought in contact 

 with the mucous membrane of the stomach, it is often very service- 

 able ; but if too strong, or its use is too long continued, it may give 

 rise to alarming or unpleasant symptoms. The more speedy intoxi- 

 cation and headache which follow the use of the effervescing wines is 

 due to the great quantity of carbonic acid gas which they contain. 

 Even soda-water, if drunk in large quantity, may produce intox; 

 or headache. 



The usual form of administering carbonic acid gas is eit! 

 some of the natural mineral waters, such as Seltzer, or by disen- 

 gaging it from its combination with some alkaline base, such as car- 

 bonate of soda or potash : any acid given at the same time, by com- 

 bining with the alkali, will liberate the gas. A vegetable acid, either 

 the citric, in the state of lemon-juice, or tartaric acid, is commonly 

 employed for this purpose ; but in many instances sulphuric acid U 

 preferable. Whenever great debility, or the phosphatic diathesis, as 

 indicated by the state of the urine, exists, the use of a vegetable acid 

 for the object above mentioned is prejudicial (Prout, ' On Disease* 

 of the Urinary Organs.') 



The gas thus disengaged U of great utility in allaying irritability 

 and spasmodic states of the stomach; thus it frequently checks 

 vomiting, either simple, or even of blood. 



In the irritable state of the kidneys and bladder which prevails in a 

 phoHphatic condition of the urine, water charged with a large portion 

 of carbonic acid gas (but without any alkali) is of double utility, both 

 from its sedative effect and its chemical properties of dissolving and 

 holding suspended the phosphate of lime, and preventing it being 

 deposited in the bladder. Externally water charged with carbonic acid 

 gas ha* been employed as a wash or bath in many cutaneous diiBMini 

 with good effect. The yeast poultice owes its soothing influence over 

 irritable ulcers to the carbonic acid gas which is disengaged from it. 

 A stream of carbonic acid ga* has been proposed to be directed upon 

 cancerous sore* to allay the pain, and also upon burnt surfaces. But 

 it* employment in such cue* requires caution. 



CARBONATE, a salt composed of carbonic acid and a hue. The 

 carbonates are an important clan of salts: some of them, as the 

 carbonates of lime and magnesia, and the metallic carbonates, are 



