GAlls are the Fruit of a Kind of Oak that grows plentifully in the Levant, especially about Aleppo and Tripoli, which are those we call Aleppo and Tripoli Galls: Besides, they are brought from Smyrna. There are some grow in France, in Provence and Gascoigny, but much inferior to those of the Levant, in that they are usually reddish, light, and altogether smooth; and those of the Levant are prickly, from whence they are denominated the prickly Galls; more heavy, blackish, or greenish, or whitish. The Variety of these Fruit is the Reason why they are put to different Uses. Those of Aleppo and Tripoli are for dying black, and making Ink; the white to dye or stain Linnen, and the Light French Galls, for dying Silk: All the Sorts are of some Use in Physick, especially the more astringent and styptick they are; being good to draw together, and fasten loose Parts, to dry up Rheums and other Fluxes, especially such as fall upon the Gums, Almonds of the Throat, and other Parts of the Mouth; us'd in a Decoction in Water or Wine they cure Diarrhaeas, Dysenteries, and are good against all Weaknesses of the Bowels. A Fumigation in Claret is good for Women to fit upon, that are troubled with a Flux of Reds or Whites, or falling down of the Womb; as also of the Fundament: The Ashes quenched in Wine or Vinegar being apply'd stanch Blood; and the Powder of the crude Galls may be given inwardly from ten Grains to a Scruple, to all the Purposes aforesaid.
There grows upon a species of Oak in Turkey a little reddish Fruit, of the Bigness of a Hazel-Nut, call'd by the Turks, Bazdienge, whose Figure is represented by the Impression of the Oak. The Levantines, especially those of Aleppo, take a hundred Drams of Cochineal, which they call Cormeti; fifty Drams of Bazdienge, and fifty Drams of Tartar; and after powdering them all, they make a very fine Scarlet. This Fruit is very scarce in France, which makes me I can say no more of it.
Galla, or the Gall-Nut, is an Excrescence which grows upon an Oak in the Levant, whose Origin proceeds from this, that certain Insects bite the tenderest Part of the Tree; so that an Humour flows out into a Shell or Bladder, which fills and hardens as it grows on. There are several Sorts of Galls, that differ according to their Size, Shape, or Colour, by the Surface of them being smooth or rugged. They are usually round, and as big as the common Nut, some as the Filbert, rough or prickly, white, green, or black. The best come from Aleppo and Tripoly. Chuse the best fed and weightiest.
There are also Galls grow in Gascoigny, and in Provence, which differ as those of the Levant do, they being smooth, light, reddish, and affording a less Tincture. They are astringent, and enter several medicinal Compositions; as Plaisters, Ointments, Injections, Fomentations, &c.