Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
May,  1903. 
Commercial  Aloes. 
205 
ing  to  this  species,  slightly  modified  by  cultivation,  soil  or  other 
environments.  If  this  opinion  is  correct,  and  the  difference  between 
Aloe  Vera  and  Aloe  Chinensis 17  is  merely  an  acquired  one,  due  to 
soil  or  climate,  it  would  readily  explain  the  supposed  occurrence  of 
a  modified  Aloe  Chinensis  in  the  West  Indian  Islands. 
Aloe  Vera,  Lin.,  may  be  properly  regarded,  then,  as  the  source 
of  the  so-called  Barbadoes  and  Curacao  aloes. 
Aloe  Ferox,  Miller,  has  been  definitely  determined  by  Tschirch18 
to  be  the  source  of  Cape  aloes  as  well  as  of  the  new  crown  or 
Uganda  aloes. 
The  source  of  Natal  aloes  has  never  been  positively  determined. 
Holmes19  has  suggested  that  this  variety  of  aloes  was  largely  if  not 
entirely  obtained  from  Aloe  Socotrina,  Lam. 
Jaffarabad  aloes  has  been  variously  said  to  be  obtained  from  Aloe 
Abyssinica,  Lam.,  Aloe  rubescens,  D.  C,  and  Aloe  Indica,  Royle.  In 
this  connection  it  would  appear  desirable  that  a  concerted  attempt 
be  made  to  definitely  identify  the  various  plants  furnishing  what  is 
now  usually  sold  as  Socotrine  Aloes. 
SOCOTRINE  ALOES. 
The  Island  of  Socotra  is  usually  considered  to  be  the  original 
source  of  the  drug  aloes.  Alexander  the  Great,  333  B.  C,  is  said 
to  have  sent  a  commission  to  the  Island  of  Socotra20  to  investigate 
the  production  of  aloes. 
Engler  and  Prantl16  give  an  interesting  account  of  the  gathering 
of  Socotrine  aloes.  This  product,  it  appears,  is  called  by  the  natives 
of  the  Island  "  Jayef,"  and  by  the  Arabs,  "  Scobr." 
The  process  of  gathering  is  very  simple.  A  depression  is  made  in 
the  ground  and  this -is  lined  with  a  goat-  or  a  sheep-skin.  The  aloe 
leaves  being  cut  off  near  their  base  are  laid  around  this  depression, 
so  that  the  exuding  juice  flows  into  and  is  retained  by  the  skin. 
From  Socotra  this  watery  juice  is  occasionally  exported  to  Muscat 
and  Arabia.  The  greater  portion  of  the  gathered  juice,  however,  is 
allowed  to  evaporate  spontaneously.  After  a  month,  when  it  has 
become  quite  thick  and  viscid,  it  has  become  decidedly  more  valu- 
able and  is  called  Jayef  Gesheeshah.  After  continued  evaporation 
for  several  weeks  more,  when  it  has  become  quite  hard,  it  is  called 
Jayef  Kasahul,  and  corresponds  to  the  most  desirable  quality  of  so- 
called  Socotrine  aloes.    It  is  known  as  Aloe  lucida,  has  a  decidedly 
