ALOES WOOD (called also agila wood, eagle wood, or agallocbum) is the inner part of of the trunk of aquilaria mita and A. agallochum, trees of the natural order aquilarkeem (q.v.), natives of the tropical parts of Asia, and supposed to be the aloes or lien aloes of the Bible. They are large spreading treees with simple alternate leaves. Aloes wood contains a dark-colored, fragrant, resinous substance, and is much prized in the east as a medicine, and for the pleasant odor which it diffuses in burning. It has been prescribed in Europe in cases of gout and rheumatism. The resinous substance is found only in the inner part of the trunk and branches ; the younger wood is white, and almost scentless. A similar substance, still more esteemed, is obtained in the south eastern parts of Asia and the adjacent islands, from the central part of the trunk of aloexylon agalloclinm, an upright-growing tree with simple alternate leaves, and terminal panicles of small flowers, of the natural order leguminosa, sub-order casalpiniece. This tree abounds particularly on the highest mountains of Cochin-China and the Moluccas ; a character of sacredness is attached to it, and it is cut with religious ceremonies. The A.
W. which it yields is not only much prized in the east as a perfume, but many medicinal virtues are ascribed to it. The ancients ascribed to it similar virtues, and so valued it for these and its fragrance, that Heredotus says it once sold for more than its weight in gold. It was regarded almost as a universal medicine. Its very fragrance was supposed to have a beneficial influence, and it was therefore worn about the person. As it admits of a high polish, and exhibits a beautiful graining, precious gems were set in it; and it was cut into fantastic forms and worn in head-dresses. etc. There seems to be allusion to a sim ilar use of it in Psalm xlv. 8, "All thy garments smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia.," Or perhaps this merely refers to its being employed to perfume clothing. It was also from a very early period much used to perfume the apartments the great. The fra grance continues undiminished for years. Lig71. aloes is a corruption of lignum aloes (aloes wood).