Habitat.—Eastern Africa.
Properties.—In hard masses, occasionally soft in the interior; opaque, yellowish-brown, orange-brown or dark ruby-red, fracture resinous. When moistened it emits a fragrant saffron-like odor; taste peculiar, strongly bitter. Almost entirely soluble in alcohol and four parts of boiling water. The powdered socotrine aloes is brighter and redder, and the odor less disagreeable than that of Barbadoes Aloes.
Constituents.—About the same as Barbadoes Aloes.
Dose.—Same as Barbadoes Aloes.
ALOINUM—ALOIN
A neutral principle obtained from several varieties of aloes, chiefly from Barbadoes and Socotrine Aloes.
Derivation.—Obtained by pulverizing and macerating aloes in cold water, and evaporating the resulting solution in vacuo. Aloin crystallizes out and is dried between folds of bibulous paper. It is purified by repeated solution in hot water, filtration, recrystallization, and finally by solution in hot alcohol and crystallization.
Properties.—A micro-crystalline powder or minute acicular crystals, lemon yellow or dark yellow in color, possessing a slight odor of aloes and intensely bitter taste. Soluble in water and alcohol.
Dose.—Horses and cattle, 2 to 3 dr.; sheep, 20 to 60 gr.; pigs, 10 to 40 gr.; dogs, 11 to 20 gr.; combined with other purgatives.