ALOES WOOD, also AGILA woos, EAGLE woon, or AGALLOCHUM. The inner part of the trunk of Aquilaria ovata and .Aquilaria agallo cha, trees native of the tropical parts of Asia, and supposed to be the aloes or lign aloes of the Bible. They are large spreading trees, with simple alter nate 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. The resinous substance is found only in the inner part of the trunk and branches, the younger wood being white, and almost scentless. The trees abound in the eastern part of Asia, especially in Cochin China, the Moluccas, and neighboring islands. Aloes wood is not only much prized in the East as a perfume, but many medicinal virtues are ascribed to it. The ancients ascribed to it simi lar virtues, and so valued it for these and its fragrance, that Herodotus says it once sold for more than its weight in gold. It was regarded
almost as a universal medicine. Its very fra grance was supposed to have a beneficial influ ence, and it was therefore worn about the per son. 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 similar use of it in Psalm xlv. S. "All thy garments smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia." Or perhaps this merely refers to its being em ployed to perfume clothing. It was also, from a. very early period, much used to perfume the. apartments of the great. The fragrance con tinues undiminished for years. Lign aloes is a corruption of lignum aloes (aloes wood).