94 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



solution and the barium sulphate removed by filtration. The filtrate 

 is concentrated to 100 c.c., treated with slight excess of basic lead- 

 acetate solution in order to remove coloring-matter, and the filtrate 

 treated with sodium sulphate solution to remove excess of lead. 

 This liquid is then divided into several portions. One is extracted 

 with benzol, and the benzol layer shaken with dilute ammonia water. 

 Oxymethylanthraquinones derived from other drugs, which would 

 interfere with the aloin test, should be completely precipitated by 

 the lead acetate. If -this is the case the ammoniacal layer will be 

 only of the faintest rose color, whereas if precipitation be not com- 

 plete the ammonia will be of a fine red color, and the bulk of the solu- 

 tion must be again treated with basic lead acetate solution and the 

 test repeated. When Oxymethylanthraquinones are shown to be 

 completely precipitated another small portion of the filtrate is 

 treated with excess of bromine solution, which, in the presence of 

 aloin, yields a flocculent precipitate. If this reaction be given, con- 

 firmation should be obtained from the main bulk of the solution by 

 shaking a 10-c.c. portion with 2 to 3 grams of sodium borate and 

 allowing the solution to stand for a quarter of an hour. In the 

 presence of aloes a green fluorescence appears. Another portion of 

 10 c.c. is heated with a drop of hydrogen peroxide and a drop of copper 

 sulphate solution. A red coloration, becoming intensified on stand- 

 ing, indicates the presence of aloes. Samples free from aloes give 

 an orange color, which does not alter on standing. It is claimed that 

 0.2 gram of extract of aloes in the presence of 5 grams of a mixture 

 of extracts of rhubarb and cascara, etc., can be detected. 



ALLIUM. Garlic. The undried bulb of Allium sativum and 

 the var. vulgare (Fam. Liliacese). A hardy perennial plant closely 

 allied to the onion. It is a native of Southern Europe and exten- 

 sively cultivated. The bulb is the part used and is composed of sev- 

 eral parts or bulbels, called " cloves." The latter are planted sim- 

 ilarly to the sets. The bulbs are gathered and braided together by 

 their tops and in this form are usually seen in the market. Garlic 

 should be used in the fresh condition only. 



Description. Bulb subglobular, 4 to 6 cm. broad, compound, 

 consisting of 8 to 15 bulbels and surrounded by 1 or 2 dry, whitish, 

 membranaceous scales and attached to a flattened circular base, 

 from the lower portion of which arise numerous yellowish-white 

 roots; bulbels more or less ovoid, in transverse section 3- to 4-sided, 

 the outer surface being convex, summit acute and narrowed into a 

 thread-like fibrous portion, base truncate; each bulbel covered by 

 one or two layers of whitish, membranaceous, scale-like leaves, 



