THE IMPR0VE1> ART OF FARRIERY. 519 



Barbadoes aloes are obtained principally from the 

 island of Barbadoes, and are the juice of the large 

 leaves of the aloes boiled to a considerable thickness, 

 and then poured into gourds, in which they gradually 

 harden 



The true Cape is the extract of a species of aloes 

 chiefly cultivated from the Cape of Good Hope. 



The Socotrine aloes are of a brown colour, inclining 

 to red, and brittle. 



The Barbadoes aloes are black, with a shade of 

 brown, of an unctuous feeling and a stronger smell, 

 broken with difficulty, and the fracture dull. 



The Cape are darker coloured, stronger smelling, 

 very brittle, and the fracture perfectly glossy. 



Every person who uses much aloes should buy them 

 in the mass, and powder them himself; and then, by 

 attending to this account of the difference of the three, 

 he can scarcely be imposed upon. Aloes purchased 

 in powder, are too often sadly adulterated. The Cape 

 may be powdered at all times ; and the Barbadoes in 

 frosty weather, when enough may be prepared to be 

 kept in closed bottles for the year's consumption. 

 They may also be powdered when they have been 

 taken from the gourd and exposed to a gentle heat for 

 two or three hours before they are put into the mortar. 

 Fifteen ounces of powdered aloes, mixed with one 

 ounce of ginger, and beaten up with eight ounces 

 of palm oil, and afterwards divided into the proper 

 doses, will form a purging mass more effectual, and 

 much less likely to gripe, than any that can be pro- 

 cured by melting the drug. If the physic is given in 

 the shape of a ball, it more readily dissolves in the 

 stomach, and more certainly and safely acts on the 

 bowels when made up with some oilv matter, like that 

 just recommended, than when combined with syrup or 



