FAMILY HERBAL 



three parts, a tough matter on the outside, a stone 

 within that, and in this shell the almond, by way of 

 kernel. They cultivate almond trees in France and 

 Italy. 



Sweet almonds are excellent in emulsions, for 

 stranguries and all disorders of the kidneys and 

 bladder ; they ought to be blanched and beat up 

 with barley-water into a liquor like milk ; this is also 

 good, in smaller quantities, for people in consump- 

 tions and hectics. 



Bitter almonds are used for their oil ; this tastes 

 sweet, and what is called oil of sweet almonds 

 is commonly made of them. But the cakes 

 left after pressing afford by distillation a water 

 that is poisonous, in the same manner as laurel- 

 water. 



Aloe plant. Aloe. 



There are a great many kinds of the aloe pre- 

 served in our green-houses and stoves. They are 

 all natives of warmer climates ; but of these there 

 are only two that need be mentioned here, as the 

 aloe kept by apothecaries, though of three kinds, 

 is the produce of only two species. These two 

 are the socotrine aloe-plant and the common 

 aloe. 



The socotrine aloe is a very beautiful plant ; the 

 leaves are like those of the pine-apple, eighteen or 

 twenty indies long, prickly at tile sides, and armed 

 with a large thorn at the end. The stalk is half 

 a yard high or more, naked at the bottom, but orna- 

 mented at top with a long spike of flowers ; these 

 are of a long shane and hollow, and of a beautiful 

 red colour. 



The socotrine or finest aloe> arc produced from this 



