GROUP XII  . Tannic Acid.—Tannic acid is present in small quantities in the great majority of plants, but in notable quantity in gall-nuts, oak bark, bearberry leaves, rhatany root, catechu, kino, red gum, bael fruit, logwood and witch hazel, all of which are largely used as medicines . In these the variety of tannic acid is not exactly the same, but although there are slight chemical differences, they all possess the power of tanning raw hides and of pre-serving albuminous tissues . The action of tannic acid is strictly local, and depends upon its power of precipitating albumen and of destroying germs . It thus acts as an astringent on all mucous membranes . After absorption into the blood it loses this effect, as it is partly broken up into gallic acid and partly combined with alkalis, both of which changes nullify its action upon albumen .