PHARMACOPGIAL VEGETABLE DRUGS. 
abundance in that district, in the place of aloes from the island of 
Socotra which, in his opinion, possessed an imaginary superiority only 
“because it comes from afar and costs much.” The three commercial 
forms of the drug then known, Socotrine, hepatic, and caballine aloes, 
Labat ascribes to one and the same origin, the differences resulting 
only from the mode of preparation, caballine “or horse aloes, the lowest 
grade, being made from refuse material.” 
Yet, Barbadoes aloes is not herein referred to. Whether this 
neglect is due to interruption of cultivation or to some other cause 
difficult to determine may never be settled. It is established, however, 
that Barbadoes aloes was exported from the island both before and 
soon after these reports. Samuel Dale, in 1751, expressly states (179) 
that aloes is brought to England from the island of Barbadoes in large 
gourds and that the inspissated juice has the properties of aloe suc- 
cotrina. 
From Cape Colony, Africa, where it was made at that date by 
Peter Van Wett (239), aloes has been an article of export since 1773. 
Curacao aloes was known in the Dutch market in 1847, and ap- 
peared in the English market for the first time as late as about 187 
ALTHAEA 
- This drug (Althea officinalis,) known as Marshmallow, was de- 
scribed by Dioscorides (194) under the Greek name signifying to heal. 
It has been used in domestic medicine from the earliest periods. Char- 
lemagne (A. D. 724-814), over a thousand years ago, demanded that 
it be cultivated in his domain. It grows throughout Europe, Asia 
Minor, western and northern Asia and adjacent districts, being em- 
ployed more or less in domestic medication in all localities. Its do- 
mestic use introduced this demulcent drug to early “professional” 
medication. 
AMYGDALA AMARA 
The seeds of Bitter Almonds (Prunus amygdalus, var. amara), 
known to be poisonous in the days of antiquity, were yet used medici- 
nally throughout the Middle Ages. Valerius Cordus (169) employed 
them as an ingredient of trochisci. They are referred to by Scribonius 
Largus (589) in the century preceding Christ. Their poisonous 
qualities were shown to depend on hydrocyanic acid by Bohm of Berlin 
at the beginning of the last century. Bitter almonds have never been 
a favorite in domestic medicine, although as stated, used in that direc- 
tion. They have been scarcely more a favorite in licensed medication. 
AMYGDALA DULCIS 
The Almond, Prunus amygdalus, var. dulcis, is one of the trees 
mentioned in the Old Testament. In the Book of Genesis the patriarch 
Israel commands his sons to the fruit, as a production of Pales- 
tine, as a present to Egypt. Theophrastus (633) makes copious ref- 
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