CHAP. 43. De Ligno Aloe, of Wood-Aloes.
LIgnum Aloës is a wood somewhat blackish on the outside, and more gray and discoloured within, brought from India.
The names.
It is called in Latine Xylaloës, Yyloaloës, Agallochum, and lignum Aloës, in English Wood-Aloës, or Wood of the Aloe-tree.
The Temperament.
It is hot and dry in the third degree, astringent, and a little bitter, and of subtill parts.
The best kinde.
The best is that which is knobbed, or in uneven pieces, very brittle and breaking short, somewhat black on the outside, and more gray and discoloured within, of a small sent, until it be burned, and then it yields a most fragrant odour, or small, also being put to the fire, it will sweat out an oily moisture, and that with small bubbles, which soon vanish away, and being put into water it will swim.
The Duration.
It will keep good many yeers.
The inward use.
It strengtheneth all the inward parts, but especially the brain, which it doth wonderfully corroborate and dry, therefore it is use∣ful in the Apoplexie, Palsie, Lethargie, and losse of memory, also a∣gainst faintings of the spirits and cold diseases of the heart and sto∣mack, for it doth much conduce to weak livers and fainting spirits, helpeth the Dysenteries, or Lasks and Pleurisies. It dryeth up defluxi∣ons of rheumatick humours, flowing from the brain, and hinders sweating. It doth strengthen a weak and languishing stomack, taketh away putrefaction, dryeth up humidity, and expelleth winde. By rea∣son of its bitternesse it killeth wormes, and is put into divers cordi∣als and Antidotes. It helpeth also the cold diseases of the wombe. The extract thereof is good for the fore-mentioned diseases.
The manner of administring it.
It is used chiefly in powder and electuaries.
A powder against a moist and cold brain.
Take of lignum Aloës in powder a dram, of pure Sugar six drams, Page [unnumbered] mix them well together, and take thereof every morning as much as will lie on six pence dry, or in broth.
An Electuary for the same.
Take of wood-Aloës in powder two scruples, species Aromaticum rosatum a dram, conserve of Betony, conserve of Rosemary, of each an ounce and a half, spirit of Marjoram two or three drops, make an Electuary, and take morning and evening thereof as much as a small Nut.
The externall use.
It is used outwardly in fumigations to dry up rheume, and in quilts for the same purpose. A fumigation thereof (say some) pro∣voketh the flowers in women.
The hurtfull quality.
It must not be given to hot and dry bodies.
The Dose.
The Dose is from ten grains to twenty or thirty.
Medicines made thereof.
Extract thereof. Species Diaxylaloës.
