IS 



NAT. ORDER. IRIDACELE. 



which bears his name. It is the same as the Crocus of tlie Latins, 

 and SafTaran of the Arabians. It was held in much estimation by the 

 Hebrews, who called it Carcom, and was greatly celebrated m ancient 

 times, both by physicians and poets. 



Cheinical Properties mid Analysis. Saffron, prepared as above 

 stated, has a powerful, penetrating-, diffusive smell, and a warm, pun- 

 gent, bitterish taste. It gives out the whole of its virtues and color to 

 rectified spirit, proof spirit, wine, vinegar and water : about three parts 

 in four of the Saffron are taken up by each of these menstiiia ; and the 

 matter which remains undissolved is inodorous, insipid, and of a pale 

 clay color. The acetous, and even the vinous tincture of Saffron, on 

 long keeping, lose a little of their color and strength, but those made 

 with rectified spirit remain in perfection for years. In distillation it 

 impregnates water strongly with its flavor : if the quantity of Saffron 

 is large, a small portion of a fragrant and very pungent essential oil 

 may be collected, amounting, as is said by Vogal, to about a drachm 

 and a half from sixteen ounces. Rectified spirit elevates also a con- 

 siderable share of its flavor, but leaves much the gi'eater part concen- 

 trated in the extract. 



Medical Properties and Uses. As a medicine. Saffron was con- 

 sidered to be very powerful. Schroeder asserts, that if taken to the 

 quantity of two or three drachms it proves fatal ; and by several au- 

 thors we are informed, that in large doses it produced cephalagia, in- 

 toxication and mania. We are also assured, that it penetrates every 

 part of the body, tinging the solids and excretions with a yellow color; 

 and that even the odor or effluvia of this drug have been known to 

 produce deleterious effects. It appears, however, from the experi- 

 ments of Dr. Alexander, that Saffron possesses but very little active 

 power, and may be taken in considerable quantities without producing 

 any remarkable effect; and it was lately given in the Edinburgh In- 

 firmary by Dr. Hemy Cullen, even to the extent of half an ounce a day 

 in several hysterical cases, without any sensible effect whatever. 

 I From the foregoing authority it would appear that Saffron, as a 



