It is now thought that the black bottle referred to cascara ( Rhamnus purshiana ) mixed with milk of magnesia, a diuretic commonly given to admitted patients of the era.
2.
It has a strong stimulant-laxative action . "'Aloe emodin "'is not carcinogenic when applied to the skin, although it may increase the carcinogenicity of some kind of radiation . "'Aloe emodin "'is found in the gel, sap or leaves of Aloe vera, the bark of Frangula ( Rhamnus frangula ) and Cascara Sagrada ( Rhamnus purshiana ), the leaves of Senna ( Cassia angustifolia ), and the rhizome of Rhubarb ( Rheum rhaponticum ).