IJ HORTUS JAMAICENSrS. ^t.oi:& 



Tlie following accoiml of preparing aloes in J;iuiaica is given, by Di". Wright, in tlie-- 

 sarne volume of the Me<!icai Jomiial, art. 1: " Tlie pkiat is pulled up by the roots, 

 ;m:l carefully cleaned from the earth or other impurities. It is then sfieed or cut in 

 j)iecea into small hand-baskets or nets. These nets or baskets are [;ut into large iron 

 boilers with water, and boiled for ten minntes, when they are tal.en out, and fresh 

 parcels supplied till the liquor is strong and black. At tins pcritAl the licjuor is thrown 

 through a strainer into a deep vat, narrow at bottom, to coo), and to deposit its foecu- 

 Jent parts. Next day the clear liquor is drawn off by a cock, and again committed to 

 the large iron vessel. At first it is boiled briskly ; but, towards tie end, evaporation is' 

 slow, and requires constantly stirring to px-cvent burning. When it becomes of the con- 

 sistence of hone^,' it is poured into gourds or cahi'vasneslbr sale. Tins hardens by age." 



2. The leaves of the true succotrine aloe, from whence ths best sort for use in medi- 

 cine is prociu'ed, are long, narrow, and succulent, coming out without any ortler, 

 and form large heads. Tlie stalks grov>f three or four feet high, and have two, three, 

 and sometimes four, of these heads, branching out from it : tiie lower leaves spread out 

 on every side, but the upper leaves turn inward toward the centre ; the flowers grow in 

 long spikes, upon stalks about two feet high, each jtaading on a pretty long foot- 

 stalk ; they are of a bright red colour, tipped with green. 1 he island of Zocatra or 

 Socotora, in the Straights of Babelmandel, being formerly most tani(jus for the prepar- 

 ation of the extract, that of tlic best quality has tlie name of Succotrnie aioe. It is of 

 a yellowish brown colour, approaching to purple, and, when reduced to powder, is a 

 sort of gold colour. The hepatic aioe of Barbadoes is darker than tne succotrine, and 

 more bitter and nauseous. 



Aloe cahallina, fetid caballine, or horse aloes, is supposed to be a coarser sort, ol)- 

 tained from the same spe;;ies with the foregoing ; acc(jrding to others it is the produce 

 of the. disticha... It is chieriy chstinguished by its strong rank smell. 



All the different kinds- are gum resins, which contain more gummous than resinon.'s 

 parts. Water, when of a boiling lieat, dissolves ail tlie soluble parts of aloes; but, if 

 lot stand till it grows cold, it lets drop most of its resm. A strong spirit dissolves and 

 keeps suspended almost the whole of aloss, though it- contains such a large proportion 

 of giimmous parts; hence it is evident that aloes contain some principle, saline 

 or other, which renders water capable of dissolving resin, and spirit capable of dissolv- 

 in<c ouni. 



Aloes IS a stimulatmg stomachic purge, which, given in a small quantity, operates . 

 mikily by stool; but, in l;;rge doses, acts roughly, and often occasions an irritation about 

 the anus, and sometimes a discharge of blood. It is a good opening medicine to people 

 of a lax habit, or who live a sedentary life ; and to those whose stomach or bowels are 

 loaded with phlegm or mucus, or who are troubled with worms, or are debilitated, be- 

 cause at the same time that it carries off those viscid hutnours which pall the appetite, 

 and overload the intestines, it sen'es as a strcngthener and bracer. In small doses, re- . 

 peated from time to time, it not only cleanses the pn'nue viu-, but li!;ewise tends to 

 promote the menstrual discharge in women ; and therefore it is frequently employed in ' 

 chlorosis, or where the menstrua are obstructed. It is a good stomachic purge, and is 

 given in all cases where such a one is wanted, but it is looked upon as a heating medi- 

 cine, and not proper in bilious habits, or where tlu re is much heat or fever; and its 

 continued use is apt to bring on the piles. It is given in substance from five grains to. . 



