Pilulae Aloes, Pilulae Aloes Compositae, Pilulae Aloes Et Asafoetidae...

Pilulae Aloes (U. S. P.)—Pills of Aloes.

Related entry: Aloe.—Aloes

SYNONYM: Pills of Socotrine aloes.

Preparation.—"Purified aloes, in fine powder, thirteen grammes (13 Gm.) [201 grs.]; soap, in fine powder, thirteen grammes (13 Gm.) [201 grs.]; water, a sufficient quantity to make 100 pills. Beat the powders together with water, so as to form a mass, and divide it into 100 pills"—(U. S. P.).

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—(See Aloes.) Dose, from 1 to 3 pills.


Pilulae Aloes Compositae.—Compound Pills of Aloes.

SYNONYM: Anti-dyspeptic pills.

Preparation.—Take of extracts of boneset, mandrake, and ginseng, each, 2 drachms; aloes, in powder, 8 drachms; gamboge, castile soap, of each, in powder, 4 drachms; capsicum and lobelia seed, of each, in powder, 1 drachm; oil of cloves, 2 minims. Mix the extracts together, then add the soap, beating it well in a mortar, and finally thoroughly beat and work in the powders, and when the whole is well incorporated, add the oil of cloves. Divide the mass into pills, of 4 grains each (T. V. Morrow, M. D.).

This pill is by many considered superior to the one originally given in Beach's Amer. Prac., of which the following is the formula: Take of Socotrine aloes, in powder, 4 ounces; castile soap, colocynth, gamboge, of each, 2 ounces; extract of gentian, 4 ounces; oil of cloves, 2 drachms. Mix as above. Dose, same as above.

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—This pill is cathartic in doses of from 2 to 4 pills. It has been found very useful in dyspepsia, constipation, jaundice, amenorrhoea, and in all ordinary cases where cathartics are required.


Pilulae Aloes et Asafoetidae (U. S. P.)—Pills of Aloes and Asafetida.

Related entry: Asafoetida (U. S. P.)—Asafoetida

Preparation.—"Purified aloes, in fine powder, nine grammes (9 Gm.) [139, grs.]; asafetida, nine grammes (9 Gm.) [139 grs.]; soap, in fine powder, nine grammes (9 Gm.) [139 grs.]; water, a sufficient quantity to make 100 pills. Beat the solids together with water, so as to form a mass, and divide it into 100 pills"—(U. S. P.).

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—This pill is applicable in constipation in nervous and hysterical individuals who suffer from gastric debility and flatulence. Dose, 2 to 5 pills.


Pilulae Aloes et Ferri (U. S. P.)—Pills of Aloes and Iron.

Preparation.—"Purified aloes, in fine powder, seven grammes (7 Gm.) [108 grs.]; dried ferrous sulphate, seven grammes (7 Gm.) [108 grs.]; aromatic powder, seven grammes (7 Gm.) [108 grs.]; confection of rose, a sufficient quantity to make 100 pills. Beat the powders together with confection of rose, so as to form a mass, and divide it into 100 pills"—(U. S. P).

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—This pill is employed in treating amenorrhoea, accompanied by constipation, in debilitated and anemic women. Dose, 1 to 3 pills. Small doses should be administered for some little time previous to the menstrual periods.


Pilulae Aloes et Mastiches (U. S. P.)—Pills of Aloes and Mastic.

Related entry: Mastiche (U. S. P.)—Mastic

Preparation.—"Purified aloes, in fine powder, thirteen grammes (13 Gm.) [201 grs.]; mastic, in fine powder, four grammes (4 Gm.) [62 grs.]; red rose, in line powder, three grammes (3 Gm.) [46 grs.]; water, a sufficient quantity to make 100 pills. Beat the powders together with water, so as to form a mass, and divide it into 100 pills"—(U. S. P.).

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—This is a modification of Lady Webster's Dinner Pills. The mastiche retards the solubility of the pill so that its chief action is exerted on the large intestine, hastening rectal evacuation. Used for constipation and gastro-intestinal torpor. Dose, 1 pill (each pill contains about 2 grains of aloes) at dinner or at bedtime.

Related Pills.—ANDERSON'S SCOTS PILLS. Take Barbadoes aloes, 12 ounces; colocynth, ½ ounce; gamboge, ½ ounce. All in very fine powder. Beat them with soap, 2 ounces, a little water, and oil of anise, flʒii. Divide into 3-grain pills.

HOOPER'S FEMALE PILLS.—Take aloes, 40 parts; ferrous sulphate (crystallized), 20 parts; myrrh, extract of black hellebore, and soap, aa, 10 parts; ginger and canella, both in powder, aa, 6 parts. Beat into a mass with water. Divide into 2 ½ -grain pills. Cathartic and emmenagogue.

PILULAE AD PRANDIUM (N. F.), Dinner pills.—"I. When 'dinner pills,' under this or some other equivalent name, are prescribed without further specification, it is recommended that the Pilulae Aloes et Mastiches of the U. S. P., also called Lady Webster's Dinner Pills, be dispensed.

Note.—Of other combinations bearing similar names, or used for similar purposes, the following appear to be those most commonly in use:

II. Chapman's Dinner Pills.—"Purified aloes (U. S. P.), nine and seven-tenths grammes (9.7 Gm.) [150 grs.]; mastic, nine and seven-tenths grammes (9.7 Gm.) [150 grs.]; ipecac, in fine powder, six and one-half grammes (6.5 Gm.) [100 grs.]; oil of fennel, one and one-half cubic centimeters (1.5 Cc.) [25♏︎]. To make 100 pills. Each pill contains 1 ½ grains of aloes, 1 ½ grains of mastic, 1 grain of ipecac and about ¼ minim of oil of fennel" (see Pilulae, N. F.).

III. Cole's Dinner Pills.—"Purified aloes (U. S. P.), seven and eight-tenths grammes (7.8 Gm.) [420 grs.]; mass of mercury (U. S. P.), seven and eight-tenths grammes (7.8 Gm.) [120 grs.]; jalap, in fine powder, seven and eight-tenths grammes (7.8 Gm.) [120 grs.]; antimony and potassium tartrate, thirteen centigrammes (0.13 Gm.) [2 grs.]. To make 100 pills. Each pill contains 1 ⅕ grains of aloes, 1 ⅕ grains of blue mass, 1 ⅕ grains of jalap, and 1/50 grain of tartar emetic" (see Pilulae, N. F.).

IV. Hall's Dinner Pills.—"Purified aloes (U. S. P.), six and one-half grammes (6.5 Gm.) [100 grs.]; extract of glycyrrhiza, six and one half grammes (6.5 Gm.) [100 grs.]; soap, in powder, six and one-half grammes (6.5 Gm.) [100 grs.]; molasses, six and one-half grammes (6.5 Gm.) [100 grs.]. To make 100 pills. Each pill contains 1 grain of aloes, 1 grain of extract of liquorice, 1 grain of soap, and 1 grain of molasses" (see Pilulae, N. F.). Adapted from Nat. Form.

PILULAE ALOES ET PODOPHYLLI COMPOSITAE (N. F.), Compound pills of aloes and podophyllum, Janeway's pills.—"Purified aloes (U. S. P.), six and one-half grammes (6.5 Gm.) [100 grs.]; resin of podophyllum (U. S. P.), three and one-fourth grammes (3.25 Gm.) [50 grs.]; alcoholic extract of belladonna leaves (U. S. P.), one and six-tenths grammes (1.6 Gm.) [25 grs.]; extract of nux vomica (U. S. P.), one and six-tenths grammes (1.6 Gm.) [25 grs.]. To make 100 pills. Each pill contains 1 grain of aloes, ½ grain of resin of podophyllum, ¼ grain of extract of belladonna leaves, and ¼ grain of extract of nux vomica" (see Pilulae, N. F.). Adapted from Nat. Form.

PILULAE TRIPLICES (N. F.), Triplex pills, Pilula triplex.—I. "Purified aloes U. S. P.), thirteen grammes (13 Gm.) [200 grs.]; mass of mercury (U. S. P.), six and one-half grammes (6.5 Gm.) [100 grs.]; resin of podophyllum (U. S. P.), one and six-tenths grammes (1.6 Gm.) [25 grs.]. To make 100 pills. Each pill contains 2 grains of aloes, 1 grain of blue mass, and ¼ grain of resin of podophyllum (see Pilulae, N. F.). Note.—When Pilula triplex, under this name or some equivalent, is prescribed without further specification, it is recommended that the above preparation be dispensed.

A formula devised by Dr. John W. Francis is also in use: II. Francis' triplex pills.—Purified aloes (U. S. P.), five and one-half grammes (5.5 Gm.) [85 grs.]; scammony, five and one-half grammes (5.5 Gm.) [85 grs.]; mass of mercury (U. S. P.), five and one-half grammes (5.5 Gm.) [85 grs.]; croton oil, thirty-two one-hundredths cubic centimeter (0.32 Cc.) [5♏︎]; oil of caraway, one and six-tenths cubic centimeters (1.6 Cc.) [25♏︎]; tincture of aloes and myrrh (U. S. P.), a sufficient quantity to make 100 pills. Each pill contains ⅚ grain of aloes, ⅚ grain of scammony, ⅚ grain of blue mass, 1/20 minim of croton oil, ¼ minim of caraway oil, and a sufficient quantity of tincture of aloes and myrrh" (see Pilulae, N. F.). Adapted from Nat. Form.

PILULAE QUADRUPLICES (N. F.), Quadruplex pills, Quatuor pills, Pilulae ferri et quininae compositae.—"Dried sulphate of iron, six and one-half grammes (6.5 Gm.) [100 grs.]; quinine sulphate, and one-half grammes (6.5 Gm.) [100 grs.]; purified aloes (U. S. P.), six and one-half grammes (6.5 Gm.) [100 grs.]; extract of nux vomica (U. S. P.), one and six-tenths grammes (1.6 Gm.) [25 grs.]; extract of gentian (U. S. P.), a sufficient quantity to make 100 pills. Each pill contains 1 grain of sulphate of iron, 1 grain of quinine sulphate, 1 grain of aloes, ¼ grain of extract of nux vomica, and a sufficient quantity of extract of gentian" (see Pilulae, N. F.). Adapted from Nat. Form.


Pilulae Aloes et Myrrhae (U. S. P.)—Pills of Aloes and Myrrh.

Related entry: Myrrha (U. S. P.)—Myrrh

SYNONYM: Rufus' pills.

Preparation.—"Purified aloes, in fine powder, thirteen grammes (13 Gm.) [201 grs.]; myrrh, in fine powder, six grammes (6 Gm.) [93 grs.]; aromatic powder, four grammes (4 Gm.) [62 grs.]; syrup, a sufficient quantity to make 100 pills. Beat the powders together with syrup, so as to form a mass, and divide it into 100 pills"—(U. S. P.).

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—As a laxative, 1 to 2 pills; purgative, 2 to 6 pills. Also employe in uterine disorders marked by constipation and torpor.

Related Pill.—PILULAE FERRI COMPOSITAE (N. F.), Compound pills of iron (U. S. P., 1880). "Myrrh, nine and three-fourths grammes (9.75 Gm.) [150 grs.]; sodium carbonate, four grammes and eighty-five centigrammes (4.85 Gm.) [75 grs.]; sulphate of iron, 4 grammes and eighty-five centigrammes (4.85 Gm.) [75 grs.]; syrup, a sufficient quantity. To make 100 pills. Each pill contains 1 ½ grains of myrrh, ¾ grain of sodium carbonate, and ¾ grain of sulphate of iron" (see Pilulae, N. F.). Adapted from Nat. Form.


King's American Dispensatory, 1898, was written by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D.