66(j IRIDACE^ 



The Pepperers of London about the same period were also held respon- 

 sible to check dishonest tampering with saffron."^ 



In France, an edict of Henry IL, of 18th March, 1550, recites the 

 advantages derived from the cultivation of saffron in many parts of the 

 kingdom, and enacts the confiscation and burning of the drug when 



falsified, and corporal punishment of offenders.^ 



8af 



ins 



year 13 lb. of saffron was publicly burnt at the Schonen Bnumen in 

 that city. In 1444, Jobst Findeker was burnt together with his adul- 

 terated saffron! And in 1456, Hans Kolbele, Lienhart Frey, and a 

 woman, implicated in falsifying saffron, were buried alive. The 

 Safmnschau was still in vigour as late as 1591 : but new regulations 

 for the inspection of saffron were passed in 1013.^ There was also in 

 the same city a Geivilrzschcm, or Spice-inspection, from 1441 to 1797. 



Similar inspections were established in most German towns during the 

 middle ages. 



Description—The flower of the saffron crocus has a style 3 to 4 

 inches long, which in its lower portion is colourless, and included within 

 the^ tube of the perianth. In its upper part it becomes yellow, and 

 divides into three tubular, filiform, orange-red stigmas, each about an 

 inch in length. The stigmas expand towards their ends, and the tube 

 of which they consist is toothed at the edge and slit on its inner side. 

 The stigma is the only part officinal, and alone is rich in colouring 



matter. 



{Hay Saff, 



wv^x^AiiK^i ^.ictA ctiuiuji inay oajfTon oi tne druggists; is a loose uiaao v/^ 

 thread-like stigmas, which when unbroken are united in threes at the 

 upper extremity of the yellow style. It is unctuous to the touch, tough 

 and flexible ; of a deep orange-red, peculiar aromatic smell, and bitter 



and rather pungent taste. T" ' • ' ' "' 1----".!- 



it loses by drying at 100° C 

 quickly reabsorbs.* 



It is hygroscopic and not easily pulverizeu ; 

 0. about 12 per cent, of moisture, which it 



The colouring power of saffron is very remarkable : we have found 

 that a single grain rubbed to fine powder with a little sugar will iwpart 

 a distinct tint of yellow to 700,000 grains (10 gallons) of water. 



Microscopic Structure— The tissue of the stigma consists of very 

 thm, smuous, closely-felted, thread-shaped cells, and small spiral vessels. 

 ihe yellow colouring matter penetrates the whole, and is partly de- 

 posited m granules. The microscope likewise exhibits oil-drops, and 

 small lumps, probably of a solid fat. Large isolated pollen grains are 

 also present. 



Chemical Composition— The splendid colouring matter of saffron 

 Has long been known as Polychroit; but in LS51 Quadrat, who instituted 

 some tresh researches on the drug, gave it the name of Crocin, which was 



i.;/-f l!r^/.f ^m '''J?,?-^^'"^^^" ""'^ ^'"''^«" ' Eight lots of saffron weighing i>^ ^-J^ 



1868. 120 ' ^^'^' centuries, . 61 Ib.f dried at various times during t^e 



2 T>f> To "a,t m . - , ' course of nine years, lost 7 lb. -i ^^•' " J 



iii ailV^T' ^'^'^^ '^' ^^^ Police, Paris, 11-7 per cent. -(Laboratory records « 



«J F £4 r i-r Messrs. Allen & Hanburys, Plough Court, 



