232 FLORA HOMCOPATHICA. 
chap. iv., verse 14): “ Spikenard and Saffron.” It was 
called Carcom by the Hebrews, by whom it was much esteemed 
as a medicine and as a perfume. It is the Kpoxos of the 
Greek physicians, Hippocrates, Theophrastus, Dioscorides, 
etc.; and the Zaffaran of the Arabians. It was held in great 
estimation in early days as a purgative, emollient, and dis- 
cutient, and possessing aphrodisiacal properties. The Arabian 
physicians, Serapion, Rhases, and Avicenna, used it in uterine 
diseases, in cases of difficult labour, and as a deobstruent 
in obstructions of the liver. Later it has been at times 
employed by different physicians for a variety of diseases, as 
hysteria, hypochondriasis, melancholia, arthritic and rheumatic 
affections, dysmenorrhea, chlorosis, asthma, spasms, etc., etc., 
and to promote uterine contractions in labour, without any 
decided or successful results. It is a popular remedy for 
assisting the eruption of exanthematous diseases. At present it 
is chiefly employed as a colouring agent, and is used considerably 
on the Continent, in the culinary art, to flavour and colour 
dishes. 
Description.—The root (cormus) is roundish ; its brownish 
coats reticulated, separating superiorly into distinct parallel 
fibres. Leaves linear, of a rich green colour, with a white 
central stripe, and surrounded at their base with long mem- 
branous sheaths. The flowers appear after the leaves, of a light 
purple, shorter than the leaves. The anthers are pale yellow; 
and the stigmas of a deep orange colour. It flowers in Sep- 
tember and October ( Woodville and Pereira). 
GrocrapuicaL Distrisution.—A native of Asia Minor; 
according to Pereira, naturalized in England, France, and some 
other European countries. It is a doubtful native of the eastern 
parts of Europe. Woodville says that it is indubitably a native 
of England; although unknown to Ray, Miller, and several 
other subsequent botanists. All the different plants of this 
genus are considered by Linnzus as only varieties of the 
Crocus sativus. 
