146 



URTICACE^E 



HABITAT. North America, north of the Carolinas and east of Nebraska. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. Various sized flat pieces about 4 mm. (% in.) 

 thick deprived of cork, of a uniformly pale brownish-white color, 

 the finely ridged inner surface with a slight reddish tinge; good 

 specimens are tough and flexible, capable of being bent double. 

 The texture consists of soft parenchymatous tissue with tangentially 

 arranged bast fibers and numerous medullary rays, giving to a cross* 

 section of the bark a delicately checkered appearance. Odor agree- 

 able, resembling fenugreek. Taste highly mucilaginous. It yields 

 a fawn-colored powder which is often adulterated with starch. Euro- 



Pig. 62. Ulmus Cross-section of bark. A. Bast fibers. B. Parenchymatous tissue. C. 

 Mucilage ducts. D. Medullary rays. 



pean elm bark, from U. campestris and U. effusa, cinnamon-colored, 

 nearly inodorous, mucilaginous, but has a bitterish and astringent 

 taste, owing to the presence of a little tannin. A few nearly spherical 

 starch grains (0.005 to - 01 M i n diameter) are sometimes present. 



Powder. Characteristic elements: See Part iv, Chap. I, B. 



CONSTITUENTS. A large quantity of mucilage (capable of precipitation 



with alcohol and lead acetate), and some tannin. 

 ACTION AND USES. Demulcent externally as an emollient application, 



hi poultice. Dose: 2 dr. (8 Gm.) or more. 



