54 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



rich as they are in tannin. They contain a large quantity in their 

 fruits, for the Bablabs 1 of commerce, so much used in dyeing and 

 tanning, are fruits of various species, either belonging or very nearly 

 allied to Acacia proper. Those of A. arabica, A. Adansonii, and A. 

 Segal 2 are frequently imported into Europe. Those of A. Farnesiana 

 are usually called Balibabulah. 3 All are employed in their native 

 countries in the preparation of astringent infusions and decoctions, 

 especially recommended in inflammatory affections of the skin, 

 mucous membranes, eyes, and throat. The fruits of Parkia* have 

 also an astringent pericarp, as is the case, too, with Prosopis (called 

 Algarobo in South America), the Angico and Barbatimdo of Brazil, 

 of which we shall treat below, Inga (often termed AlgarovillcC in 

 America), and the American species of Fnterolobium* and Pitheco- 

 lobium. 1 It is from the pericarp of several Egyptian Acacias, espe- 

 cially A. arabica, var. nilotica, that Acacia juice is extracted. This 

 juice, now so rare in Europe, is obtained by pounding and pressing 

 the unripe pods ; it has been recommended in ophthalmia, dysentery, 

 and scurvy. The fruits of the Australia]) species, A. melanoxylon and 

 homalophytta, may, we are told, furnish a similar juice. This astrin- 

 gency also occurs in certain morbid products analogous to our galls or 

 bedeguars, produced by a gall-insect on the branches of A. Raddiancf 

 in Egypt, and used in toothache. 



The astringency is often still better marked in the bark and 

 wood of the stem and branches. Various kinds of Indian Catechu 

 are extracted by infusion from Acacia Catechu ." the chief kinds are 

 those which Guibourt 10 lias named as follows : Cachou brun siliceux, 

 noir mucilagineux ,• C. du Pegu en masses, lenticulaire ; C. terne paraMli- 

 piphde ; C. brun siliceux, brun rouge polgmorp/ie, and blanc enfume. 

 Pereira asserts, 11 that the Catechus from Bengal, extracted from 



1 From the Indian Balul, Babula(see Gens., " Sec ROSEHTH., op. cit., 1063. 



Droij. Simpl., ed. 4, iii. 365. — H. Bn., in » s.m., S. Ale. Acac. Egiz., Pisa, 1830.— 



Diet. Fncycl. des Sc. Med., viii. 2). The H. Bn., in Adamoma, iv. 120, n. 89. 



Babldbs of Egypt, India, and Senegal are dis- 9 W., Spec., iv. 1079. II. Bn., in Adan- 



fcinguished from each other. sonia, iv. 98, n. 10.— A. polyacantha W., loc. 



2 This species is the Senegal Ballals. cit. — A. catecMoides Roxb., Fl, Lid., ii. 562? 



3 Or Balibulah (see H. Bn., loc. cit.), —A. Wallichiana DC, Prodr., ii. 458.— 



4 Rosenth., op. cit., 1051. The seeds of P. Mimosa Catechu Roxb., op. cit., 563. (See 

 intermedia Hassk. are bitter and tonic. above, p. 39 ; figs. 29-31.) 



3 See Guib., op. cit., 369.— H. Bn., in Diet., 10 JDrog. Simpl., eU 4, iii. 374, 383. 



Encycl. des Sc. Medic, ii. 746. " Stem. Mot. Med., ed. 5, ii. p. 2, 339.— 



6 Jaboncillo of the Colombians. Lihdl., Ft. Med., 268.— Rosenth., op. cit., 1057. 



