BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 289 
ters into combination with the following com- 
ponds: Decoction of ALoES; PILLS, AL ES, ET 
MYRRH#}; PULV. CRET£ COMP.; TINCTURE OPII 
AMMONIATED; TINCT. RHEI, and TINCTURE CIN- 
CHON2 CoMPpouUND—all of which are recom- 
mended by the British codex. The tincture is 
made after theU. S. Pharmacopceia. 
The Crocus Sativus is known also as the Hay 
or Autumnal Saffron. It requires some 40,000 
or 50,000 flowers to furnish a pound of the stig- 
mas. When dry, saffron is liable to adultera- 
tions of the scientific kind, such as dried shreds 
of beef and vegetable matter, all colored to imi- 
tate the style-like threads of the genuine article. 
See Dispensatory 17 Ed. page 456. The Crocus 
Sativus is mentioned in the works of Homer, 
and was used by the Arabians as a medicine in 
the second century. 
Mucuan, Cowage, Mucuna, Pruriens, or 
Dolichos Puriens.—Natural order Luguminose. 
Papillionaceze, Native of the East and West In- 
dies. This twining perennial climber is adorned 
with pinnate and trifoliate leaves on long petioles, 
the leaflets of which are somewhat rhomboidal in 
shape. The plant is ornamented with large red 
or purple colored flowers, resembling in shape 
those borne on the common garden pea. The 
fruit is a pod (legume) about 4 inches long, and 
in outlines resembling the letter f. The hairs 
attached to these pods are of a red-brown color, 
about ;\, of an inch long, very stiff, and easily 
penetrate the skin, causing a terrible itching. 
They are said to contain resin and a small quan- 
tity of tannin. Cowage is no longer officinal, 
but it was once tsed as an anthelmintic and 
