GALLS

Syn. Gall-nuts , Nut-galls ; Galla (B. P.); Gallæ (Ph. E.). “Excrescences on Quercus infector i a caused by the puncture and deposited ova of Diplolepis Gallæ tinct or iæ .” The best galls are blueish-black, heavy, and not yet perforated; intensely astringent. They are imported from Aleppo, and are known in commerce as black or blue galls ( GALLÆ NIGRÆ , G. CŒRULÆ ). The next quality is termed, from their colour, green galls ( GALLÆ VIRIDES ). Both are gathered before the insect has escaped, and are styptic and powerfully astringent. White galls ( GALLÆ ALBÆ ) are lighter, le astringent, and inferior. Uses, . Galls are extensively employed in the art of dyeing, and constitute one of the principal ingredients in all the shades of black, and are also employed to fix or improve several other colours. A decoction of galls, to which a little green copperas and gum Arabic has been added, forms common writing ink. In medicine they are used as an astringent, in hæmorrhages and fluxes, in doses of 10 to 20 gr.; and topically, under the form of infusion or decoction, as a gargle in relaxation of the uvula; as an injection in gleet and leucorrhœa; as a lotion or fomentation in flabby ulcers, prolapsus ani, .; and as an ointment in piles, watery ulcers, . The infusion or decoction is also used as an antidote to poisoning by the alkaloids, and was formerly given as a tonic in intermit tents. See Gallic Acid, Ink , .