164 NAT. ORDER. AMENTACE^. 



jection, in cases of gleet, leucorrhcea, prolapsus, &c. Dr. Cullcn tells 

 us that he has frequently employed the decoction 'vvith success in slight 

 tumefactions of the mucous membrane of the fauces, and in many 

 cases of prolapsus uvulae ; and in a number of cases this decoction, 

 early applied, has appeared useful in preventing these disorders. It 

 must be remarked, however, that Dr. Cullcn almost constantly added 

 a portion of alum to these decoctions. An extract is procured from 

 the bark by boiling down to a proper consistency, which is put up in 

 small earthen pots. 



Galls, which are so numerously found upon the leaves of this 

 tree, are occasioned by a small insect, with four wings, called Cynips 

 Querci Folii, which deposits an egg in the substance of the leaf, by 

 making a small perforation through the under surface ; the ball pres- 

 ently begins to grow, and the egg in the centre of it changes to a 

 worm ; tliis Avorm again changes to a nymph, and the nymph to the 

 flying insect above mentioned, which by eating its passage out leaves a 

 round hole ; those galls which have no holes, are found to have tlie 

 dead insect remaining in them. 



Galls appear to be the most powerful of the vegetable astrin- 

 gents, striking a deep black when mixed with a solution of ferrum 

 vitriolatum, and therefore preferred to every other substance for the 

 purpose of making ink. As a medicine, they are to be considered as 

 applicable to the same indications as the oak bark, and by possessing a 

 greater degree of astringent and styptic jjower, seem to have an ad- 

 vantage over it, and to be better suited for external use. Reduced to 

 powder, and made into an ointment, they have been found of great 

 service in haemorrhoidal affections ; tlieir efficacy in intermittent fevers 

 was tried by order of the Academy of Sciences ; from their report 

 it appears that the galls succeeded in many cases, and also that they 

 failed in many others, which were afterwards cured by Peruvian bark. 



