CROCUS SATIVUS. 235 
have been checked, as a similarly acting remedy; as its power 
of increasing the circulation occurs first in the secondary 
action, consequently the opposite must take place in its direct 
action. It has been found useful as a similarly acting remedy 
in vertigo and headache, with slow pulse. In some cases of 
melancholia, with slow pulse, and in amenorrhea, it appears 
also to be of service as a similarly acting remedy. It has (in 
its direct action) produced death by apoplexy, and is said to 
have proved efficacious in similar affections (probably in relaxed 
organisms). The phenomena of its secondary action point to 
much increased irritability of the fibre, hence probably the 
cause of its so readily producing hysteria.” 
The following are Dr. E. Stapf’s observation, taken from the 
American translation of the Additions to Hahnemann’s Materia 
Medica Pura, “ This drug was a favourite article of the phy- 
sicians of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Latterly it 
has been employed much less frequently, and the few prominent 
effects which we know it is capable of producing have been 
merged in vague, general terms, such as stupefaction, heating, 
sopor, intoxication, insanity, exciting the blood, ete. It is evident 
that this imperfect knowledge is of very little avail in the treat- 
ment of disease, and that the virtues of Crocus, which certainly 
is an interesting drug, ought to be investigated in a more 
adequate manner. From the absence of all sound and compre- 
hensive knowledge which prevails amongst physicians in regard 
to the remedial virtues of Crocus, in spite of the frequent and 
constant use which has been made of it by physicians in the 
treatment of disease, it is evident that the mere empirical use 
of Crocus has not sufficed to procure an adequate knowledge of 
its remedial powers, and that this knowledge can only be 
obtained by carefully proving the drug upon healthy persons. 
Further observations and experiments will no doubt make the 
and useful; but the present 
list of toms more complete 
ian ae a ; especially 
symptoms are sufficient to point to many affections, 
of the female sex, in which Crocus may be used with success. 
u2 
