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THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [ Vol. LII 



These were Cynips theophrastea and an undetermined 

 gall called by Pliny the black gall-nut. 



Until very recently in all histories of drugs, tanning, 

 and dyeing, galls have been considered as of great im- 

 portance, and at the present time are among the most 

 valued ingredients of ink. The first use of galls was in 

 medicine and many besides those discussed below have 

 been listed as drugs. 



Among the Cynipids is the gall of field cirsium pro- 

 duced by Cynips species (determined by Cuvier) which 

 was formerly considered, if merely carried in the pocket, 

 as a very efficacious remedy for hemorrhages. Others 

 merely mentioned are {Cynips quercus-termvnalis) = 

 Biorhiza pallida, Cynips polycera, Cynips quercus-toza, 

 Dryophanta quercus-folii, Andricus fazcundatrix, and the 

 undetermined galls called by Guibort, galle corniculee, 

 galle marmorine, and galle d'Istrie. This last, according 

 to Trimble, yields 24 per cent, tannic acid. 



Besides the Cynipid galls there is a gall on Pistachia 

 khinjuk, called G-ul-i-pista, produced by Pemphigus pal- 

 Udus, which enters into the materia medica of India. 

 Two other Indian galls used in medicine are found on 

 Tamarix. One, called Bara-Mai, occurs on Tamarix gal- 

 ica, and the other, Chota-Mai, occurs on Tamarix orien- 

 talis. Another Tamarix gall said to have been used by 

 the Egyptians in medicine is one called by them Cher- 

 samel, and by the Turks, according to Fockeu, Bazgendge. 



To the Cynipids useful in tanning Kieffer has added 

 Cynips lignicola and Cynips hungarica; and to those used 

 in dyeing, {Cynips tinctoria-nost m) = Cynips infectoria 

 Hartig. Cynips quercus-petioli Linnteus, according to 

 the Gardeners' Chronicle, 1854, is also capable of form- 

 ing a strong black dye. 



Burton in his journeys in East Africa noted a gall-nut 

 which was used by the Somali women as the basis of their 

 tattooing dye. This gall has not been determined, but 

 the record is of interest as being the only one encoun- 

 tered of a savage people's making use of galls. 



