Just had Gale tell me about his condition, and I had the hag's staff, and he wanted it. He actually had it equipped already. I told him to go ahead and eat the magic, and when I checked him, them the staff had no stats, which I expected. So I unequipped it, and noticed when I went to grab the other staff I had, that once it was not equipped anymore it had gained it's stats and ability again, and I was able to have him equip it again.