470 LTLIAGEM 



down to one pound and strain. Put tlie aloes into a mortar, 

 rub it down with part of the ahoA^e decoction and strain, repeat 

 the process with the remainder of the decoction and any aloes 

 remaining on the strainer, let the strained liquors subside, draw 

 off the supernatant fluid, mix the aloes with 3 dirhems of 

 saffron and preserve for use. In Anthony Colin^s translation 

 of Clusius, the following notice of aloes by Garcia d'Orta 

 occurs : — " Les Indiens s'en servent en leurs coUyres et aux 

 medicamens purgatifs comme aussi es playes, lesquelles ils 

 Yeulent rempKr de chair pour lequel usage ils ont le plus 

 souvent dedans leur boutiques un medicament compose do 

 myrrhe et aloes apelle par eux Mocebar (mussabar)- J'ai vue 

 un mcdecin du grand Sultan Badur Roy de Cambaya lequel 

 usoit de Therbe d^aloes pour medicament familier en ceste fagon. 

 II faisoit cuire avec du sel les fueilles de Fherbe couppees, de 

 telle decoction il en faisoit prendre huict onces lesquelles faiso- 

 yent vuider le ventre fort benignement et sans aucune extorsiou 

 quatre ou cinq fois. En ceste ville de Goa ils donnent en 

 breuvage a ceux qui ont des ulceres aux reins ou en la vescie 

 de Taloe bien pulverise et mesle avec du laict qui a si heureux 

 succes et profit que les malades en sont incontinent gueris. lis 

 s'en servent aux Indes pour faire meurir les flegmons." In 

 the same work there is a prescription for the use of fresh aloe 

 leaves by Christophe de la Coste. Take of aloe leaves sliced 

 3 ozs., salt 3 drms., heat to boiling over a gentle fire^ strain 

 and add 1 oz. of sugar. Let the liquid cool, and take it cold 

 early in the morning. The patient should be directed to keep 

 moving about to promote the action of the medicine, and four 

 Kours after taking it some chicken broth may be given. The 

 leaves and flower stalks of the aloe are pickled by Banians 

 of Guzerat after having been soaked in salt and water, and 

 it is a general practice among Hindus to give a little of 

 the juice of the plant with honey in a golden spoon to 

 new-born children; it is supposed to hasten the expulsion of the 

 meconium. The dose must be administered by the father of 



the child, or by the nearest male relative in the absence of 

 the father. 



