234 FLORA HOMCEOPATHICA. 
the suspected substance in hot water. Saffron owes its colour 
to a peculiar substance, called by Vogel and Bouillon-Lagrance, 
Polychroite, every hundred parts of Saffron containing sixty-five 
parts of this substance. Saffron formerly was grown in great 
quantities near Saffron Walden, in Essex. 
PuystoLocicat Errects.—J. Lusitanus (apud Fric. de Venen., 
p- 394) says that blisters, headache, blindness, delirium, and 
loss of consciousness came on after a large dose of Saffron, 
and even that death has been produced; and that death 
ensued from a man inhaling a large quantity of the vapour of 
Saffron. 
Borellus (Hist. et Observ., Cent. iv.), says that headache and 
debility were produced by remaining some time in a room 
where there was much saffron. Tralles (De Opis, sect. i. p. 114) 
states that it inclines to apoplexy. 
Riverius (Op. Med., ed. Horstius, p-. 136, Fref. 1674) says 
that a great dose of Saffron given to a woman to increase the 
catamenia, produced death after the third day by uterine 
hemorrhage. Forster (Gottinger Mag. Jahrg., i. st. 2) records 
a case of death produced by the vapour of Saffron. Alexander 
(Exp. Ess., p. 88, 1763) took four scruples of Saffron without 
any deleterious effect; and Wibmer took a drachm without 
perceiving any sensible change. 
Mepicat Usrs (Hommopatuic).—Crocus was not proved by 
Hahnemann, but we find it mentioned in his Lesser Writings, 
translated by Dr. Dudgeon, p. 347. “It appears as if Saffron 
crocus (Crocus sativus), in its direct action, brought down the 
circulation and vital heat, Slow pulse, pale face, vertigo, and 
exhaustion have been observed. In this stage most probably 
occur the melancholy and headache that have been observed 
from its action; and in the second stage (the indirect secondary 
action) occur the senseless, extravagant gaiety, the stupefaction 
of the senses, the increased action of the arteries and heart, and 
lastly, the hemorrhage, which have been observed from its use. 
For this reason it may be useful in restoring flows of blood that 
