Spec. Plant. Willd. i. 1324.

Cl. 5. Ord 2. Pentandria Digynia. Nat. ord. Ulmaceae.

G. 505. Calyx five-cleft. Corolla none. Capsule (samara) compressed, membranaceous.

Species 1. U. campcstris.1 Common Elm. Med. Pot. 3d edit. 710. t. 242. Smith, Flor. Brit. i. 281.

Officinal. Ulmus, Lond. ULMI campestris cortex, Edin. Ulmus; cortex interior, Dub. Elm Bark.

Syn. Orme (F.) Ulmrinde (G.), Olm (Dutch), Alm (Ban.), Kara Wiazowa (Pol.), Olmo (I., S., Port.), Him (Russ.).

The elm tree is indigenous, and very abundantly cultivated, flowering in March or early in April, before the leaves are unfolded. It grows to a considerable height, sending off strong, spreading, lateral branches; with the bark of the trunk very rough and cracked, but that of the younger branches smooth and tough. The leaves are rough on both sides, villose beneath along the veins, doubly serrate, longer on one side of the midrib than on the other, about three inches long, two broad, and of a dark green colour. The flowers, which appear before the leaves, are in distinct gems, clustered, scarcely peduncled, numerous, small, of a brownish flesh-colour, and have a violet odour: the capsules are oval, oblong, bordered, and containing a single, roundish seed.2

The inner part of the bark of the younger branches, which is of a yellowish colour, is the part officinally used, and is sold free from the epidermis. -

Qualities. - Elm bark is inodorous, and has a slightly bitter, slimy taste. When boiled in a small quantity of water, it forms a thick dark brown-coloured decoction, which gelatinises as it cools; and when evaporated leaves a brittle, semi-transparent substance, soluble in water, but insoluble in alcohol and ether, to which, however, it imparts a brownish colour. The brittle residue, when treated in the same manner as Klaproth treated the gum-like exudation from the Ulmus nigra, afforded nearly the same results3; and consequently it must be regarded as ulmin: but from the effects of some re-agents (see Decoction), I am inclined to consider it a peculiar modification of mucus, combined with extractive, gallic acid1; and bitartrate of potassa, which Scheele detected in elm bark.

2 The age of the elm is yet unknown. Several stocks of it which were planted in France, by the orders of Sully, in 1580, still survive (1824). They are from 80 to 90 feet high, and from 25 to 30 in circumference.

2 Thomson's Chymistry, 4th edit. iv. p. 695.

Medical properties and uses. - This bark operates as a diuretic. It has been given with seeming benefit in herpetic eruptions; and Dr. Lettsom2 attributes the cure of a severe case of "lepra ichthyosis," in which other remedies had failed, to the use of this bark. I have long prescribed it instead of sarsaparilla. Other practitioners have also related cases of its efficacy; but Dr. Willan3 thinks it is of little use. It is generally given in the form of decoction.

Officinal preparation. - Decoctum Ulmi, L. D.

UVA. Vide Vitis.