SAGO. 605 
removeth away difficulty of breathing, which most dangerously, 
and suddenly happeneth.”’ 
Saffron tea will effectually control fluxes of blood, especially 
with women, if given of moderate strength, half a teacupful, 
sweetened to taste, every three, or four hours. The same remedy 
is likewise of service for faulty vision when there is a sense of 
gauze before the eyes, which the patient tries to wink or wipe 
away. “Nec poteris Croci dotes numerare, nec usus.” It was 
customary in the sixteenth century to cultivate the growth of 
Saffron on a considerable scale, with varying success according 
to the season. Farmers who failed to produce a good crop 
became querulous, and wore dismal faces, being at the same 
time known agriculturally as “ crokers”; and hence arose the 
exhortation under misfortune “not to be a croaker;” though 
others refer this figure of speech to the croaking of a frog. 
Throughout Cornwall loaves, and cakes are commonly dyed 
yellow with Saffron. In Essex the plant was formerly cultivated 
largely, and particularly at Saffron Walden, where some of it 
was repeatedly presented in a silver cup by the corporation to 
several of our sovereigns, who visited Walden for the ceremony. 
The stigmata of the Saffron will give an intoxicating quality 
to beer; they exercise a specific influence on the brain, and 
nerves, insomuch that when taken in large doses the Saffron 
will cause immoderate mirth, and involuntary laughter. It has 
the singular property of counteracting the intoxication produced 
by alcoholic liquors, as do hops likewise to some extent; this 
was known to Pliny. Smelling strongly at the Hay Saffron 
of commerce (as obtained from France, and Spain) will cause 
headache, stupor, and heavy sleep, whilst during its internal 
use the urine becomes of a deep yellow, or orange colour. Irish 
women frequently dye their sheets with Saffron, -so as to protect 
ark from vermin, also with a view to strengthen their own 
mbs 
SAGE (See Heres). 
SAGO. 
Growna naturally in Japan, and the East Indian Islands, 
whilst also cultivated in English hot-houses, is the Sagus Palm, 
which yields by its gummy pith our very serviceable Sago. 
