189 
ALKANE? (Anchusa officinalis), Dyer’s bugloss, N.O. The al- 
kanna plant is a perennial herb of southwestern Europe and ad- 
jacent Asia. Before the days of coal-tar dyes, it was very largely 
cultivated as a dyestuff. It is rarely employed for any other pur- 
pose than imparting a red color to medicinal and cosmetic prepara- 
tions. 
AoE (Aloe vera), Aloes or Bitter aloes, U.S.P. The Pharma- 
copoeia recognizes several species of aloe as sources of medicinal 
aloes. The article used in medicine is the juice obtained from the 
cut surfaces of the leaves, thickened by evaporation. The biblical 
aloes used as a perfume material and in incense was probably the 
wood of Aquillaria agollocha and not related to the medicinal aloes 
of today. The dried juice prepared commercially is often a com- 
posite of the juices of separate species. The U. 5. imported 
801,300 Ibs. in 1940. It was valued at $238,904. Aloe is the 
source of aloin and the juice has laxative properties. The yield of 
aloe juice increases with age up to four years and then declines for 
ten or more years. A one year old plantation produces 100 Ibs. of 
prepared aloes per acre in comparison with 500 to 1000 Ibs. per 
acre from a four year old acreage. Fresh leaves have been used 
very recently in the treatment of burns and are reported as being 
particularly effective in alleviating burns resulting from an over- 
exposure to X-ray. 
AttHea (Althea officinalis), Marshmallow root, U.S.P. The 
peeled root deprived of rootlets has long been used in domestic 
medicine. Owing to the large amount of gum and starch present 
it is demulcent. The powdered root is used in the preparation of 

marshmallow candy. 
Ancetica (Angelica Archangelica) N.O. This plant is a na- 
tive of northern Europe where it exists as a tall perennial and 1s 
extensively cultivated for the fruit and root. It is highly valued 
as a domestic drug and condiment by the natives of Lapland 
— 
where it is indigenous. The infusion is used medicinally as a 
carminative and expectorant. 
Anise (Pimpinella Anisum), Aniseed, N.F. The dry seedlike 
fruit is obtained from a perennial herb native to Egypt and Greece, 
now cultivated throughout the Mediterranean region, particularly 
in Spain. Long a popular herb and remedy of the Middle Ages, 
