Elemi

Elemi, a fragrant resinous substance, is obtained from the pitch-tree, Arbol de la Brea, a native of Manila. Formerly, many varieties of elemi, such as Mexican, Brazilian, and Mauritius elemi, were in the market, but these have now been supplanted in Great Britain by the original substance, that obtained from Manila. Manila elemi, when pure and fresh, is colourless, and resembles in consistence old honey, but it is usually found mixed with impurities, hard, and of a yellow tint. It possesses an aromatic odour resembling that of a mixture of lemon, fennel, and turpentine, and when distilled, yields as much as 10 per cent. of essential oil. When treated with cold alcohol, it partly dissolves, leaving about 20 per cent. of a white resinous substance called Amyrine. Elemi is never used internally, and only seldom as a stimulating ointment to old wounds.