Aloes

“ ALOES.—The drug called aloes is the bitter, resinous, inspissated juice of the leaves of various species of an arborescent plant of the lily family, with a developed stem and large succulent leaves, growing principally in tropical and sub-tropical regions, and having a wide extent of range, being produced in Borneo and the East, Africa, Arabia, and the West Indies; many are also natives of the Cape of Good Hope. The plant will thrive in almost any soil, and, when once established, it is extremely difficult to eradicate. ”

“ Botanical Origin—Several species of Aloë [2539] furnish a bitter juice which when inspissated forms this drug. These plants are natives of arid, sunny places in Southern and Eastern Africa, whence a few species have been introduced into Northern Africa, Spain, [2540] and the East and West Indies.
The aloes are succulent plants of liliaceous habit with persistent fleshy leaves, usually prickly at the margin, and erect spikes of yellow or red flowers. Many are stemless; others produce stems some feet in height, which are woody and branching. ”

“ The cultivators are small proprietors, but little capable as to mind or means of making experiments to improve the manufacture of the drug. It is said, however, that occasionally a little aloes of very superior kind is made for some special purpose by exposing the juice in a shallow vessel to solar heat till completely dry. But such a drug is stated to cost too much time and trouble to be profitable. [2563] The manufacture of aloes in the Dutch West Indian island of Curaçao is conducted in the same manner. ”

“ This Aloe was first collected and photographed by Dr. Pole Evans at Nelspruit in September 1905. In the Nelspruit Valley (Barberton District) the plant is found chiefly on the granite outcrops, and in similar localities at Eland’s Hoek and in the Kaap Valley, where it was collected by Mr. Geo. Thorncroft. Like most of our Transvaal aloes, it flowers in mid-winter (July) , and the flowering period extends well into August. Aloe petricola is one of the stemless species, and the bicoloured inflorescence makes it quite a striking plant in the rockery. ”

“ The medical value of aloes being large, it is impossible to enumerate all the diseases in which it is useful. Externally the tincture of aloes and myrrh is sometimes applied as a stimulant to wounds, and powdered [44] aloes is mixed with plaster of paris in making splints for dogs to prevent these animals from biting and tearing them off. Internally aloes should be combined with ginger, nux vomica and given in capsule or bolus.
ALUMEN—ALUM
Derivation.—From alum slate, shale, schist, a native mixture of aluminum silicate and iron sulphide. ”

“ Nearly all the houses in Walmer have good gardens, enclosed by the prettiest of hedges, sometimes of pomegranate, plumbago, or passion flowers, but most often of tall American aloes, round the sweet flowers of which the pretty honey-suckers—magnified humming-birds, substantial instead of insect-like—are continually hovering, their jewelled dresses of green, red, and yellow flashing in the sun at every turn of their rapid flight. Close under the hedge, and shaded by the aloe's blue-green spikes, the white arums grow in the thickest profusion. ”

“ It looks so pretty growing over the rocks or around some old stumps. The aloes grow all up the sides of the mountain. When it is time for them to flower, a tall stalk shoots up from the middle of the aloe which, in course of time, becomes covered with red blossoms. ”

“ Upon the same principle the Pharmacopœia directs the trituration of aloes with clean white sand, in the process for preparing Vinum Aloes, to facilitate the pulverization and to prevent the particles of aloes, when moistened by the liquid, from running together into masses; some dispensers very judiciously adopt the same mechanical expedient in making a tincture of myrrh ”

“ Some of the larger kinds of aloes are of great importance to the inhabitants of countries in which they grow. Beset as the leaves are with strong spines, they form an impenetrable fence. The negroes of the western coast of Africa make ropes and weave nets of the fibrous part of these leaves. The Hottentots hollow out the stems of one of the kinds into quivers for their arrows. In Jamaica, there is a species of aloe which supplies the inhabitants with bow-strings, fishing lines, and materials from which they are able to weave stockings and hammocks. ”

“ Barbadoes aloes, common aloes, or hepatic aloes, are the dried juice of a variety of the Socotrine aloes, which is cultivated in Barbadoes and Jamaica. Of this we import three kinds: one in gourd shells; an inferior kind, in pots; and another, still worse, in casks.
In the cultivation of aloes it is requisite that the plants should grow for two or three years before the juice is procured from them. The operation of collecting the juice is performed in different ways. Dr. Browne tells us that labourers go into the field with knives and tubs ”

“ There are not many things of such a tropical aspect that can be grown in our climate, indeed we cannot now recall another that so much resembles the Aloes and Century-plants of more southern latitudes. The leaves are armed at their points with a strong sharp spine, while from their edges float slender, light-gray filaments or threads, so that it did not require a very imaginative temperament to see in the spine the needle, and in the filaments the thread, wherewith Adam and Eve sewed together their fig leaf aprons. ”

“ Their process is to evaporate to the consistence of a syrup, in vacuo, a solution obtained by exhausting a mixture of aloes and sand, with cold water, and then to set it aside for a few days. The resulting dark crystalline mass is purified by pressure between folds of bibulous paper, and repeated crystallisation from hot water. Barbadoes aloes are commonly used for the purpose; but soft or semi-liquid Socotrine aloes, or the unevaporated Socotrine-aloes juice, is probably its best source. ”

“ Take of Cinnamon, Xylobalsamum, or wood of Aloes, the roots of Asarabacca, Spikenard, Mastich, Saffron, of each six drams, Aloes not washed twelve ounces and an half, clarified Honey four pounds and three ounces, mix them into an electuary according to art. Also you may keep the species by itself in your shops. ”

“ Stimulant and acrid; internally, it is cathartic, but too violent to be safely exhibited; it is useful as a lotion in scabies, and other cutaneous eruptions.
2. Compound Decoctions. Decoctum Aloes Compositum. It resembles the well known Beaume de vie, although less purgative, and is a scientific preparation, constructed upon the true principles of medicinal combination. Aloes is the base, to which are added, 1st, sub-carbonate of potass, 2ndly, powdered myrrh, 3dly, extract of liquorice, 4thly, saffron, and after the decoction is made, 5thly, compound tincture of cardamoms. ”

“ Every here and there particles of earth containing the seeds of aloes have been carried into the clefts of the rock, and, nourished by the fertilizing matter already there, have germinated and thriven admirably, as their fine trusses of bloom are present to testify; meanwhile their own seeds are ripening, destined to be conveyed on the bosom of the stream to districts far away, where they may flourish on an unaccustomed soil. ”

“ Aloes should not be used in irritation or inflammation of the alimentary canal or piles. It is not advisable to give an aloetic purge when the temperature is above 102° F. Nor in hemorrhage from the rectum; in high fevers it is apt to cause superpurgation, also should not be used where there is great debility or weakness. In influenza the bowels are apt to be irritable and oil is preferable to aloes. Don’t use during pregnancy; may cause abortion. For young foals or other animals, the gentler purgative, such as linseed or castor oil should be used. ”

“ Spikenard, Aloes-Wood, Grains of Paradise, Calamus Aromaticus, Mace, Gum Olibanum, and Yellow Sanders, of each two ounces; Hepatic Aloes, fine Amber and Rhubarb, of each two drachms. All these drugs being procured good in their kind, beat in a mortar those that ought to be pulverized, and put the whole, thoroughly mixed together, into a large strong glass alembic; pouring as much genuine brandy upon them as will rise at least three fingers breadth above the ingredients. ”

“ The settlers go forth and pitch their waggous and campa on these spots to obtain the produce. The shipments from Table Bay and the eastern port of Algoa Bay are very considerable. The odor of the Cape aloes is stronger and more disagreeable than that of the Socotrine or Barbados, and the color is more like gamboge. It is brought over in chests and skins, the latter being preferred.
Mr. George Dunsterville, surgeon of Algoa Bay, gives the following description of the manufacture of Cape aloes:—
A shallow pit is dug, in which is spread a bullock's hide or sheep's skin. ”

“ Aloes, 1 oz.; Castile soap, 1⁄2 oz.; ginger, 1 dr.; oil of peppermint, 1⁄2 dr.; beaten to a mass. A useful laxative in cold habits.—Dose. As the last.
Pills of Aloes and Ipecac′uanha. Syn. Dr Baillie’s dinner pills; Pilulæ aloës et ipecacuanhæ, L. Prep. (Dr Baillie.) Powdered aloes, 30 gr.; powdered ginger (finest) , 45 gr.; ipecacuanha, 12 gr.; syrup of orange peel, q. s. to mix. For 24 pills.—Dose. One, about an hour before dinner.
Pills of Aloes and I′ron. Syn. Pilulæ aloës et ferri (Ph. E.) , L. Prep. 1. (B. P.) Barbadoes aloes, 2; sulphate of iron, 11⁄2; compound powder of cinnamon, 3 ”

“ The cultivation and manufacture are of the most simple kind. The usual mode of propagating the plants is by suckers; and all the care required is to keep them free from weeds.
From the high price which the best Barbados aloes fetches in the market, £7 per cwt., its culture might be profitably extended to many of the other islands. The aloes plant is indigenous to the soil of Jamaica, and although handled by thousands of the peasantry and others, there is not perhaps one in five thousand who understands its properties or the value of the plant. ”

“ Aloes is a purgative which acts chiefly on the large bowel and to some degree also on the liver, and is of most use in the habitual constipation of weakly children. In spite of its bitter taste the powder is seldom objected to if given between two layers of coarse brown sugar, while with most children the addition of a teaspoonful of treacle will induce them to take very readily that useful medicine, the compound decoction of aloes. ”

“ The finest sort of cloth among the inhabitants of Otaheite, and other of the South Sea Islands, is made of the bark of this tree.
According to M. Chevremont, Engineer of Mines, “ropes made of aloes have four times the resistance of those of hemp of the same diameter, and made by the same process (?) . The fibres of the aloe contain a resinous substance which protects the ropes from the action of moisture: even at sea, and renders the tarring of them unnecessary. They are lighter than hempen ropes, and lose nothing of their strength by being wet (?) ”

“ Smith does not doubt that both of these species of aloes also contain aloine, though, most probably contaminated with so much resin, or some other substances, as prevents it from crystallizing. What tends to confirm Mr. Smith in this opinion is the observation he has made, that when the crude crystals of aloine are allowed to remain in contact with the mother liquor of the Barbadoes aloes, they disappear and become un­cry­stal­li­za­ble. I have also observed a similar occurrence in the mother-liquors of tolerably pure aloine. These become always darker and darker ”

“ These Christian merchants also told us that none of the finest and best kind of aloes is brought to us, because it comes from the kingdoms of Cathay, Chini, Macym, Sarnau, and Gravay, countries much richer than ours and more abounding in gold, having kings of great power and riches, who take great delight in sweet savours and use them much more than our western princes, owing to which circumstance the true and best kind of aloes is worth ten crowns the pound even in the city of Sarnau. ”

“ They use the fresh juice of the leaves as a stimulant of the scalp in baldness and locally in contusions. Aloes is a slow purgative and its irritating action on the lower portion of the large intestine extends to the genito-urinary organs. It is, therefore, an emmenagogue and its prolonged use causes hemorrhoids, especially in man. It is contraindicated where there is disease of the genito-urinary organs or rectum. As it increases the secretion of bile it is useful in certain hepatic diseases. It is used in small doses as a tonic in dyspepsia. ”

“ The different species of aloes, which blossom in succession, form the principal sources of their winter supplies of food; and a legion of other gay flowering plants in spring and summer, the aloe blossoms especially, are all brilliantly coloured, and they harmonise admirably with the gay plumage of the different species of sun-birds. Even the keen eye of a hawk will fail to detect them, so closely do they resemble the flowers they frequent. ”

“ This tree has always been regarded as the symbol of sorrow, and also of forsaken love. In China it is employed in several rites, having from a remote period been regarded as a token of immortality. As a symbol of bitterness the aloe has long been in repute, and "as bitter as aloes" is a proverbial expression, doubtless derived from the acid taste of its juice. Eastern poets frequently speak of this plant as the emblem of bitterness; a meaning which most fitly coincides with its properties. The lily of the valley has had several emblems conferred upon it, each of which is equally apposite. ”