Gallic Acid
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Gallic acid is a trihydroxybenzoic acid compound found in various plants like tea leaves and oak bark. It forms colorless crystals, has astringent properties, and was historically used internally for internal bleeding and diabetes, and as a mouthwash.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
GALlic ACID, Acidum gallicum. trihydroxybenzoic acid, C7H2(OH)3COOH (1, 2, 3, 5)-|-H2O, together with tannins is found in tea leaves, in galls, in oak bark, in the bark of pomegranate roots, in sumac and in many other plants. Colorless or slightly yellowish thin shiny needle-shaped crystals, odorless, astringent, slightly acid taste, acid reaction, difficultly soluble in cold, easily soluble in hot (in 3 parts) water, in 6 parts of 90° alcohol, in 12 parts of glycerin. At 120° G. a. loses its water of crystallization; above 220° it fuses and decomposes into CO2 and pyrogallic acid. Administered internally in doses of 0.05-0.3-0.6 in powders two to three times a day for internal hemorrhages, diabetes, etc.; for mouthwashes in solutions. As an antidote in alkaloid poisonings it cannot replace tannic acid. Preparations: 1) airole (Bismuthum subgallicum oxyjodatum)-basic iodo-gallic-bismuth salt (Ph. VII); 2) dermatol (Bismuthum subgallicum)-basic gallic-bismuth salt (Ph. VII); 3) galloformin-gallic acid hexamethylenetetramine (urotropine); 4) gallein-methyl ester of gallic acid; 5) iodogallein-methyl ester of bismuth-iodo-gallic acid.
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“Gallic Acid.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/gallic-acid/