ALOE VULGARIS. 
101 
sometimes met with so pure and bright, as scarcely to be distin- 
guishable by the eye, from the Socotrine, but its ofFensive smell 
readily betrays it. It is probable that it is prepared from the dregs 
and residuum of the preceding sorts. 
Mocha Aloes. This sort resembles the Socotrine or Cape Aloes 
in appearance, but is said to be more purgative. It is probably the 
same as the Cape, but has derived its name from Mocha, the place 
from whence it is exported. Indian and Mozambique Aloes are 
inferior sorts of the Hepatic or Bombay Aloes. 
Chemical Properties, &c. of Aloes. "According to Neu- 
mann's analysis, 100 parts of aloes contain about 7.8. soluble in water 
only, or analogous to gura, 94. soluble in alcohol only, or resinous 
matter, and 895 soluble both in alcohol and in water, or extractive." 
Different proportions have been got by other chemists from different 
varieties of aloes, and Braconnot has described the extractive as a 
peculiar principle, under the title of aloesin. The Socotrine Aloes 
when distilled with water, yields a volatile oil ; it is nearly or totally 
soluble in boiling water, but as it cools, a peculiar bitter matter of a 
resinous nature is deposited ; on continuing the boiling, the extractive 
matter taken up is rendered insoluble. Hepatic Aloes does not yield 
any volatile oil by distillation, nor is it totally soluble in alcohol. 
The extractive obtained separately from any kind is less nauseous 
than the crude aloes, but differs in this respect, according to the sort 
of aloe from which it is prepared. 
Medical Properties and Uses. Although the various kinds 
of aloes differ considerably in their sensible quaUties, yet they agree 
pretty uniformly in their medical effects. They are warm, stimu- 
lating cathartics, exerting their action chiefly on the colon and 
rectum. In small doses repeated, aloes warm the habit, quicken the 
circulation, and promote the uterine and hsemorrhoidal fluxes. From 
the stimulant property of aloes, they are found very useful cathartics 
in most cases where the intestines are in a sluggish and torpid state, 
particularly in habitual costiveness, to persons of a hypochondriacal 
temperament, and those who lead a sedentary life ; in jaundice, 
chlorosis, scrophula, &c. the good effects of aloes are pretty certain. 
Aloes have also been found to be an excellent remedy for the expul- 
sion of ascarides ; for this purpose it is given internally, and applied 
externally to the abdomen in the form of plaister. Aloes are con- 
tra-indicated in all fluxes, phthisis, irritable and plethoric constitu- 
tions, and to persons afflicted with piles. The purgative effects of 
aloes have been supposed by some to reside entirely in its resin, but 
