404 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



rubbed up with hot (115°-120° F.) water; or in ball. The patient should, 

 if possible, be previously prepared by a. diet of bran mashes and salt only, 

 for 2 or 3 feedings before exhibition of the purge. An effective aloes ball 

 is made by melting and mixing Barbadoes aloes (1 lb.) with glycerin and 

 molasses (each qH), and powdered ginger root (§1), on a water bath. 

 When the mass is properly mixed it is removed from the fire and alcohol 

 (3v) is added. The mass is poured on a layer of flaxseed meal to cool, 

 and then is weighed into portions of 3 1 0^/2 each. These are rolled into 

 balls, covered with tissue paper, and preserved in tight tin or glass ves- 

 sels. Horses should not be worked after receiving aloe:s balls, but should 

 be given a little walking exercise 12 hours after the administration of the 

 dose. Colic and superpurgation may foUow if the dose is repeated within 

 48 hours, or if large quantities of cold water or green food are allowed 

 during the action of the cathartic. If aloes does not operate satisfac- 

 torily, it is safer to give linseed oil by the mouth and rectal injections, 

 than to administer a second does of aloes. 



Uses Bxternal. — The tincture of aloes and myrrh is sometimes ap- 

 plied as a stimulant to wounds, and powdered aloes is mixed with plaster 

 of Paris in making splints for dogs, to prevent these animals from biting 

 and tearing them off. 



Uses Internal. — Aloes is employed in the treatment of the horse, 

 whenever an active purge is desirable, with the following exceptions: It 

 must not be used in acute diseases of the respiratory tract lest metastasis 

 occur, and the inflammation attack the bowels. Neither in acute inflam- 

 mation of the alimentary canal nor the kidneys is it desirable; nor in 

 intestinal obstruction or impaction of the colon. In the first two named 

 conditions, aloes is too irritating to the organs implicated; in the two 

 last, the drug may aggravate the trouble by the production of impotent 

 peristaltic movements. Pregnancy contra-indicates the use of aloes, lest 

 abortion ensue. The therapeutic scope of aloes being large, it is impos- 

 sible to enumerate all the diseases in which it is useful. Perhaps this 

 cathartic is more commonly serviceable in indigestion and spasmodic or 

 flatulent colic. 



In acute inflammatory diseases of the bi^in and cord aloes is often 

 combined with calomel (3i) in ball to enhance the effect. The admin- 

 istration of an aloes ball is followed by that of small doses of Epsom 

 salt (§iv) in the drinking water in the treatment of hemoglobinemia of 

 horses, or in conditions when we wish to assist the depleting action of 

 aloes. Turpentine is followed by aloes, or aloes is given prior to a course 

 of iron sulphate and gentian, for the destruction of round-worms in 

 horses. 



Laxative physic ball for horses, less powerful than above. 



Pulveris aloes 3iv. 



Pulveris zingiberis. 



Pulveris nucis vomicae aa 3ii. 



Glycerin q. s. 

 M. et fiat bolus in No. 1. 

 Sig. Give at once. 



It is often taught that aloes is contraindicated in hemorrhoids, but 



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