Elemy, in the materia medica, a kind of resin, very improperly called gum elemi. There are two sorts of it kept in the shops; the one genuine, and brought from Ethiopia; the other spurious, and the produce of America. The true kind is a yellowish resin, with a cast of green and white; its smell is strong and not unpleasant, and its taste acid and bitter. It is very inflammable, and readily dissolves in oil and other fat substances over the fire; which two characters alone sufficiently distinguish it from the gums: but this genuine elemi is very rare in Europe.

The spurious elemi is a whitish resin produced from a tall tree, with pinnated leaves, not unlike those of the pear-tree. It is in some degree pellucid, and of a fragrant smell. It is only used externally, being greatly recommended for resolving tumours, deterring ulcers, wounds, &c., though Dr Lewis is of opinion, its internal use might be advantageous in many cases.