G30 DRUGS, NABCOTICS, ETC. 



About two tons were imported from Socotra in 1833, but a 

 much larger quantity could be obtained if required. 



The price of Socotrine aloes in the Liverpool market, in the 

 early part of 1853, was 30s. to 6 the cwt.; of Cape, 30s. to 32s. 

 East Indian, or Hepatic aloes. The real hepatic aloes, 

 so called from its liver color, is believed to be the produce of 

 A. Arabica, or perfoliata, which grows in Yemen in Arabia, from 

 whence it is exported by the way of Bombay to Europe. Ac- 

 cording to Dr. Thomson and the " Materia Medica," it is duller 

 in its color than the other kinds, is bitterer, and has a less plea- 

 sant aroma than the Socotrine aloes. It should not be liquid, 

 which deteriorates the quality. 



A. Indica a species with reddish flowers, common in dry 

 situations, in the north-west provinces of India, is that from, 

 which an inferior sort of the drug is produced. It is obtained 

 in G-uzerat, Salem, and Trichinopoly, and fetches a local price 

 of 2d. to 3d. a pound. In the Bombay market, Socotriue aloes 

 fetches wholesale 16s. to 20s. the Surat inaund of 41 Ibs., and 

 Maccula aloes only 9s. 



Barbados aloes, is the produce of A. vulgaris, or A. barbadensis, 

 a native of the Cape colony, and is often passed off for the 

 Hepatic. It is brought home in calabashes, or large gourd 

 shells, containing from 60 to 70 Ibs. each, or more. It is duskier 

 in hue than the East Indian species, being a darkish brown or 

 black, and the taste is more nauseous and intensely bitter. 



In 1786 one hogshead and 409 gourds of aloes were exported 

 from Barbados. In 1827, there were about 96.000 packages 

 shipped from the island. In 1844, there were 4,600 packages 

 exported. The exports have fallen off considerably, only about 

 850 gourds having been shipped in the season of 1849-50 ; but 

 in 1851 it increased to 2,505 gourds. 



Caballine, or Horse-aloes, is the coarsest species or refuse of the 

 Barbados aloes, and from its rank fetid smell is only useful for 

 veterinary medicine. It is also obtained from Spain and 

 Senegal. 



A very good description of the mode of cultivating and pre- 

 paring the aloes in Barbados is given in the 8th vol. of the 

 " London Medical Journal " : 



The lands in the vicinity of the sea, that is from two to three miles, which 

 are rather subject to drought than otherwise, and are so strong and shallow as 

 not to admit ot the planting of sugar-canes with any prospect of success, are 

 generally found to answer beat for the aloe-plant. The stones, at least the 

 1 irgcr ones, are first picked up, and either packed in heaps upon the most 

 shallow barren spots, or laid round the field as a dry wall. The land is then 

 lightly ploughed and very carefully cleared of all noxious weeds, lined at one 

 foot distance from row to row, and the young plants set like cabbages, at about 

 five or six inches from each other. This regular mode of lining and setting 

 the plants is practised only by the most exact planters, in order to facilitate the 

 frequent weeding by hand ; because if the ground be not kept perfectly clean 

 and free from weeds, the produce will be very small Aloes will bear being 

 planted in any season of the year, even in the dryest, as they will live on the 



