54 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 
rich as they are in tannin. They contain a large quantity in their 
fruits, for the Badlabs' 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 4. arabica, A. Adansonii, and A. 
Seyal? are frequently imported into Europe. Those of 4. Farnesiana 
are usually called Balibabulah® 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 Barbatimdéo of Brazil, 
of which we shall treat below, Juga (often termed Algarovilla’ in 
America), and the American species of Huterolobiwm’ and Pitheco- 
lobium.? It is from the pericarp of several Egyptian Acaczas, espe- 
cially 4. 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 Australian species, 4. melanoaylon and 
homalophylla, 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 4. Raddiana* 
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 Guisourt” has named as follows: Cachou brun siliceux, 
noir mucilagineuw ; C. du Pégu en masses, lenticulaire ; C. terne paralléli- 
pipede ; C. brun siliceux, brun rouge polymorphe, and blanc enfumé. 
Prema asserts," that the Catechus from Bengal, extracted from 
1 From the Indian Babul, Babula (sce GUIB., 
Drog. Simpl. 6d. 4, iii. 365.—H. By., in 
Dict. Eneycl. des Sc. Méd., viii. 2). The 
Bablabs of Egypt, India, and Senegal are dis- 
tinguished from each other. 
2 This species is the Senegal Bablabs. 
3 Or Balibulah (see H. By., loc. cit.), 
4 Rosentu., op. cit., 1051. The seeds of P. 
intermedia Hassk. are bitter and tonic. 
5 See GuIB., op. cit., 369.—H. By., in Dict., 
Encyel, des Se. Médic., ii. 746. 
6 Jaboncillo of the Colombians. 
7 See RosEenTH., op. cit., 1063. 
3 Savi, S. Ale. Acac, Hgiz., Pisa, 1830.— 
H. By., in Adansonia, iv. 120, n. 39. 
9 W., Spec. iv. 1079.—H. Bwn., in Adan- 
sonia, iv. 98, n. 10.—<A. polyacantha W., loc. 
cit.—A. catechuoides Roxs., Fl. Ind., ii. 562? 
—A. Wallichiana DC., Prodr, ii. 458.— 
Mimosa Catechu Roxn., op. cit., 563. (See 
above, p. 89; figs. 29-31.) 
10 Drog. Simpl., éd. 4, iii. 874, 383. 
N Elem. Mat. Med., ed. 5, ii. p. 2, 389.— 
Linv1., Fl. Med., 268.—RosENTH., op. cit., 1057. 
