403 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



SECTION XI.— VEGETABLE CATHARTICS. 

 Class 1. — Simple Purgatives. 



Aloe. Aloes. (U. S. P.) 



(Aloe Barbadeistsis, Aloe Socotrina, Phahm. 1890.) 



Socotrine Aloes. 



Synonym. — Aloe succotrina, aloes sucotrin, s. socotrin, Fr.; socotora, s. soeo- 

 trinische aloe, G. 



Habitat. — Eastern Africa. 



The inspissated juice of the leaves of Aloe Perryi Baker, yielding Socotrine 

 aloes; or Aloe vera Linn&, yielding Curacoa aloes; or Aloe ferox Miller, yielding 

 Cape aloes (Fam. Liliaceae). 



Properties. — In yellovi'ish-brown to blackish-brown opaque, or smooth and 

 glistening masses; fractured surface somewhat conchoidal; sometimes soft or 

 semi-liquid; odor aromatic or saffron-like, never fetid or putrid; taste nauseous, 

 bitter. Soluble to extent of 50 per cent, in water ; solution yellowish. The powder 

 is dark brown. 



Curacao Aloes. Aloe Barbadensis. Barbadoes Aloes. (B. P.) 



Synonym. — Curacoa aloes, E. ; alofis des Barbades, Fr. ; Barbados-aloe, G. 



The inspissated juice of the leaves of Aloe vera (LinnS) Webb (nat. ord. 

 Liliaceae). 



Habitat. — The island of Barbadoes. 



Properties. — In orange to blackish-brown, opaque masses; fractured surface 

 uneven, waxy, somewhat resinous; odor characteristic but not aromatic as in 

 Socotrine aloes. 



Not less than 60 per cent, of Curacao aloes is soluble in cold water, the solu- 

 tion being of a purplish-red color. 



The powder is deep reddish-brown. 



Aloe Capexsis. Cape Aloes. 



Synonym. — Alofis der Cap, Fr. 



Habitat. — Africa. 



Properties. — Cape Aloes — In reddish-brown or olive-black masses, usually 

 covered with a yellowish-powder, or in thin, transparent fragments of a reddish- 

 brown color; fracture smooth and glassy; odor characteristic. 



Not less than 60 per cent, of Cape aloes is soluble in cold water, the solution 

 being of a pale yellow color. 



The powder is greenish-yellow, changing to light brown on ageing. 



Dose of Aloes.— n., 5ss-i, (15-30); C, gi-ii, (30-60); Sh., gss-i, (15-30); Sw., 

 5ii-iv, (8-15); D., gr.xx-3i, (1.3-4); Foals, 1 to 3 months, 3ss-ii; Foals, 6 months, 

 .5iii; Foals, 1 year, 3iv. 



Constituents. — 1, aloin; 2, a resin; 3, a volatile oil, giving the odor; 4, a trace 

 of gallic acid. 



Aloinum. Aloin. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Aliiine, Fr. 



A pentoside or mixture of pentosides obtained from aloes, varying in chem- 

 ical composition, physical and chemical properties according to the source. Pre- 

 serve it in well-closed containers, protected from light. 



Derivation. — Obtained by pulverizing and macerating Barbadoes aloes in cold 

 water, and evaporating the resulting solution in vacuo. Aloin crystallizes out 

 and is dried between folds of bibulous paper. It is purified by repeated solution 

 in hot water, filtration, recrystallization, and finally by solution in hot alcohol 

 and crystallization. Nataloin is derived from Cape aloes. 



Properties. — A micro-crystalline powder or in minute acicular crystals from 

 lemon-yellow to dark-yellow in color, odorless, or possessing a slight odor of 

 aloes and an intensely bitter' taste. It becomes darker on exposure to light and 

 air. 



Aloin varies in solubility with its composition. It is soluble in water, alcohol 

 or acetone; slightly soluble in ether. 



Aloes from Curacoa aloes is soluble in about 65 parts of water and 10.75 



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