BY J. H. MAIDEN. 359 



affections of the eyes, and a number of severe and trifling 

 ailments in which an astringent may or may not be of service. 

 Speaking generally, the wattle-barks of the dry country are 

 ragged-looking and poor in tannic acid, while those east of the 

 Dividing Range are more compact and far more astringent. 



The astringent principle (accompanied by no injurious substance ' 

 in large quantity) is present to a more or less useful extent in the 

 barks of scores of genera of our native trees, e.g.. Eucalyptus, 

 Banlcsia, Casuarina. 



The gums of some species of wattle are used to a limited 

 extent in domestic medicine and surgery. Vide Flindersia 

 viaculosa, infra. 



2. Acacia falcata, Willd., N.O. Leguminosse, B.FL, ii., 361. 

 Variously called " Hickory," " Lignum-vitae," and " Sally." 



It used to be called '' Wee-tjellan " by the aboriginals of the 

 counties of Cumberland and Camden. 



This bark, which contains much tannin, was used by aboriginals 

 near Sydney to stupefy fish, and to make embrocations for the 

 cure of cutaneous diseases. (Macarthur). 



This tree extends to Queensland. 



3. Acacia implexa, Benth., N.O. Leguminosoe, B.FL, ii., 389. 

 The Rev. Dr. Woolls observes that the bitter bark of this tree 



probably possesses medicinal properties. 



This tree is also found in Victoria and Queensland. 



4. Acacia penninervis, Sieh., N.O. Leguminosae, B.FL, ii., 362. 



" Hickory " or " Blackwood." 



The bark (and according to some, the leaves) of this tree was 

 formerly u.sed by the aboriginals of southern New Souuh Wales 

 for catching fish. They would throw the bark or leaves into a 

 waterhole, when the fish would rise to the top and be easily 

 caught. Neither the leaves nor bark contain strictly poisonous 

 substances, but like other species of Acacia, they would be 

 deleterious owing to their astringency. 



