ACTION OF ALOES 403 



parts of alcohol. Barbaloin and socaloin are soluble in about 60 parts of cold 

 water. Barbaloin is soluble in 20 parts of alcohol. Socaloin in 80 parts of abso- 

 lute alcohol. J 



Dose.—H. & C, 3ii-iii, (8-12); D., gr.ii-xx, (.12-1.3), in combination with 

 other purgatives. 



PHBPABATIONS OF ALOES. 



The official preparations are numerous, but most are not applicable to veteri- 

 nary practice. 



Tinctura Aloes et Myrrhw. Tincture of Aloes and Myrrh. (U. S. P. 1905.) 



Synonym. — "Elixis pro," elixir proprietas Paracelsi, E. 



Made by maceration and percolation of purified aloes, 100; myrrh, 100; and 

 liquorice root, 100; with alcohol and water to malie 1000. 



Pilulae Laxativae Compositae, U. S.' P. 1905. Aloin 1.3 gm.; strychnine, 0.06 

 Gm. ; extr. belladonna leaves, 0.8 Gm. ; ipecac, 0.4 Gm. ; glycyrrhiza, 4.6 Gm. ; syrup 

 q. s. to make 100 pills. Dogs. — Dose, 1 to 2 pills. 



Action External. — Aloes is a slight stimulant to raw surfaces. It is 

 absorbed from the denuded skin and thus may occasion purging. 



Action Internal. — Alimentary Canal. — Aloes is first of all a purga- 

 tive. In addition to this it is a bitter, and therefore small doses excite 

 salivary and gastric secretion, together with the movements and vascu- 

 larity of the stomach, and appetite. The activity of aloes in the bowels 

 is due largely to the solvent action of bile upon it. Aloes is absorbed 

 from the digestive tract and is eliminated by the bowels, kidneys and 

 mammary glands. It may be excreted in sufficient quantity in the milk 

 to create looseness of the bowels in nursing animals. 



Aloes Stimulates peristalsis of the large intestines, but does not 

 notably increase the secretions of the bowels. Moreover, its action is 

 very slow (12-36 hours). This probably happens because the drug does 

 not act till it reaches the large intestines, locally, or through elimination. 

 Aloes is preeminently the best purgative for horses, but does not operate 

 so well on the other domestic animals. Epsom salt, Glauber salt or 

 linseed oil are preferable for cattle ; linseed oil or carron oil for foals and 

 calves ; and castor oil or calomel for dogs. In chronic constipation in 

 dogs cascara sagrada, phenolphthalein and aloes are, however, effective 

 (see below). A full dose of«aloes often creates some general disturbances 

 in horses, including nausea, slight colic, diuresis, elevation of temperature 

 (l°-2° F.) and pulse, with purging lasting from 2 or 3 to 24 hours. 

 Aloes also possesses anthelmintic properties because of its bitter qual- 

 ities and purgative action. Socotrine aloes may be used in the official 

 preparations, but Barbadoes aloes finds most favor in veterinary medicine, 

 and is probably the stronger of the two. Cape aloes is a little inferior to 

 the other varieties and is more apt to produce diuresis. Aloes and aloin 

 lead to catharsis, whether injected under the skin, into the blood, or 

 applied on raw surfaces. Administration by the mouth is more effective. 

 Aloin appears to contain the active principles of aloes, and is usually as 

 operative, but some manufactures are ineffective. 



Kidneys and Sexual Organs. — Aloes causes reflex, or sympathetic 

 irritation of the female pelvic organs in its operation on the lower bowel; 

 is an emmenagogue, and may prove abortifacient. The drug sometimes 

 excites diuresis. 



Administration. — Aloes is given to horses in semi-solution after being 



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