GLYCEROLE  OF  ALOES. 
85 
with  or  be  questioned  concerning  it,  without  having  any  certain 
or  definite  acquaintance  with  it,  I  beg  to  offer  the  following  brief 
account.  Glycerole  of  Aloes,  according  to  M.  Chausit,  is  pre- 
pared by  dissolving  an  alcoholic  extract  of  aloes  in  glycerine. 
Upon  this  information,  I  have  prepared  some  according  to  the 
following  forms  ;  the  proportions  are  my  own,  not  having  any 
given  with  account  of  the  preparation  : — 
Take  of  Socotrine  Aloes,  coarsely  powd.  and  free  from  dirt,  £iv. 
Rectified  Spirit  of  wine,  3iv. 
Macerate  until  the  aloes  is  dissolved,  then  filter  through  bibulous 
paper  ;  distil  the  spirit  as  closely  as  may  be,  evaporate  what  re- 
mains to  the  consistence  of  treacle,  and  whilst  still  warm  add  suf- 
ficient pure  glycerine  to  make  four  fluid  ounces.  Now,  as  the 
whole  of  the  aloes,  with  the  exception  of  a  very  small  quantity 
of  extraneous  matter,  was  dissolved  by  the  spirit  and  eventually 
mixed  with  the  glycerine,  reasoning  from  what  I  had  already  ex- 
perienced with  regard  to  the  solvent  power  of  that  substance,  I 
thought  that  it  would  possibly  alone  accomplish  all  that  had  al- 
ready been  done — that  is,  the  solution  of  the  aloes — but  without 
the  assistance  of  the  spirit,  and  thus  avoid  a  certain  waste  of 
material,  loss  of  time,  and  needless  labor.  I  therefore  tried 
the  following  experiment : — 
Take  of  Socotrine  Aloes,  in  fine  powder,  31V. 
Pure  Glycerine,  5iv. 
Mix  them  well  in  a  mortar,  then  transfer  to  a  bottle  ;  agitate 
occasionally  during  several  days,  when,  should  the  whole  of  the 
aloes  not  be  dissolved,  digest  for  fifteen  minutes  with  gentle  heat 
by  means  of  a  water-bath,  when  it  will  become  dissolved,  and 
may  now  be  strained  through  linen  to  separate  any  small  portions 
of  dirt  which  may  by  any  possibility  be  present.  The  result 
will  be]  a  preparation  exactly  similar  to  the  preceding  one, 
minus  a  very  small  quantity  of  spirit.  Following  either  of  these 
forms,  only  employing  a  larger  proportion  of  aloes,  a  very  sim- 
ilar article  may  be  produced  from  the  resin  of  aloes,  which  is 
obtained  as  a  useless  residue  in  preparing  the  aqueous  extract  of 
aloes.  This  glycerole  of  aloes  is  a  bright  mahogany-colored 
liquid,  of  the  consistence  of  Price's  best  and  pure  glycerine,  and 
has  been  recommended  by  M.  Chausit  in  the  treatment  of 
