CLASS V. ORDER II.J ULMUS. 437 



but the quantity produced is not sufficient, or its quality so good, as 

 to be used for the purposes of cork. The inner bark, as well as the 

 leaves, are slightly astringent and mucilaginous, containing extractive 

 matter, with gallic acid, and a small portion of supertartrate of potash. 

 It is the inner bark which has obtained the greatest reputation as a 

 medicine, and was admitted into the Pharmacopeias ; and Klaproth, 

 upon examination, found it to contain a peculiar substance, which he 

 called; ulmine. It differs from every other known body, and must, 

 therefore, constitute a new and peculiar vegetable principle. It exudes 

 spontaneously from the trunk and branches. The sap, too, which 

 frequently exudes from wounds of the trunk and branches in great 

 abundance, was formerly supposed to be useful in the cure of recent 

 ruptures. It is the decoction of the inner bark which has obtained for 

 it the greater reputation, especially in the cure of diseases of the skin ; 

 and from the time of Pliny we find it used with vinegar for the cure of 

 scabbia, infused in cold water, and taken copiously it purged the body 

 and purified it from flemma ; but in all forms, either of the youug buds, 

 the leaves, the bark, or root, it was supposed particularly useful in 

 beautifying and cleansing the skin : hence it is that in latter days it 

 has been extolled in the cure of icthyosis and other cutaneous 

 diseases ; but as to its curative properties, in some of the obstinate and 

 untractable affections, there is but liltle opportunity of experience in 

 this country, and the use of the elm bark seems almost confined to the 

 form of decoction as a mucilaginous drink in affections of the kidney 

 and bladder. In the northern parts of Europe, in times of scarcity, 

 the inner bark of the elm, as well as that of other trees, has been dried 

 and ground into a fine powder, and made into bread. The leaves in 

 many parts of Europe are collected and dried for winter provender for 

 sheep and cattle ; and for this purpose also, especially in some parts of 

 Italy and the South of France, the leaves of the mulberry, vine, plane, 

 and chestnut, are collected and dried for the same use. What is 

 called British herb, or spurious tea, is mostly the prepared leaves of 

 some species of elm, generally, we believe, the U. campestris. This 

 is seldom sold alone, but chiefly used for adulterating the China teas. 



