738 SALEP 



is imported. It is stated that 4,320 flowers are required to produce an ounce of saffron. 

 True cake saffron, no longer to be found, was a filamentous cake, composed of the 

 stigmas of the flowers of the Crocus sativus. It is now, however, generally the leaves 

 of the safflbwer (Carthamus tinctorius). True saffron contains a. yellow matter, called 

 polychrmte, because of its being susceptible of numerous changes of colour. This is 

 obtained by evaporating the watery infusion of saffron to the consistence of an extract, 

 digesting the extract with alcohol, and concentrating the alcoholic solution. The 

 polychroite remains in the form of a brilliant mass, of a scarlet red colour, transparent, 

 and of the consistence of honey. It has no smell, with the bitter pungent taste of 

 saffron. It is slightly soluble in water ; and if it be stove-dried it deliquesces speedily 

 in the air. According to M. Henry pere, polychroite consists of 80 parts of colouring- 

 matter, combined with 20 parts of a volatile oil, \vhich cannot be separated by 

 distillation till the colouring-matter has been combined with an alkali. Light blanches 

 the reddish-yellow of saffron, even when it is contained in a full phial well corked. 

 Polychroi'te, when combined with fat oils, and subjected to dry distillation, affords 

 ammonia, which shows that nitrogen is one of its constituents. Sulphuric acid colours 

 the solution of polychroite indigo-blue with a lilac cast ; nitric acid turns it green, of 

 various shades, according to the state of dilution. Protochloride (muriate) of tin 

 produces a reddish precipitate. 



Saffron is employed in cookery. It is also used to colour confectionery articles, 

 liqueurs, varnishes, and especially cakes in the west of England. It was formerly 

 used to such an extent in Cornwall, that that one county consumed more saffron 

 than all the rest of England. 



S AGAPEXTiriVX. A gum-resin derived from an umbelliferous plant supposed to 

 be a native of Persia. It is occasionally used instead of gum galbenum. See Dr. 

 Pereira's ' Elements of Materia Medica.' 



SAGGER. A clay case of a cylindrical shape, in which porcelain or earthenware 

 goods are placed in the kiln to protect them from the immediate contact of the flame 

 and smoke. See POTTERY. 



SAGO (Sagou, Fr. ; Sago, Ger.) is a species of starch extracted from the pith of 

 the sago-palm, a tree which grows to the height of 30 feet in the Moluccas and the 

 Philippines. The tree is cut down, cleft lengthways, and deprived of its pith, which 

 being washed with water upon a sieve, the % starqhy matter t comes out, and soon forms 

 a deposit. This is dried to the consistence of dpugh.jpressed through a metal sieve to 

 corn it (which is called pearling\ and hen dried 9ver tjie fire with agitation in a shallow 

 copper pan. Sago is sometimes imported in the pulverulent state, in which it can 

 be distinguished from arrowroot only by microscopic examination of its particles. 

 These are uniform and spherical, not unequal and ovoi'd, like those of arrowroot. 

 In this state it is known as sago-meal. A factitious sago is prepared in Franco and 

 Germany with potato-starch. 



Of sago and sago-flower we imported in 1873 : 



cwts. valne 



From Borneo ...... 10,137 8,892 



Straits Settlements .... 279,766 221,798 



Other countries . . . . . 8,276 6,367 





Total .... 298,179 237,057 



SAXXi CliOTH. A hemp fabric, manufactured largely at Dundee. 



SAINT IGN ATIUS'S BEAUTS. The seeds of a climbing plant, native of the 

 Philippine Islands, supposed to bo a species of Strychnos. These beans are sometimes 

 used instead of Nux vomica. See Dr. Pereira's ' Elements of Materia Medica.' 



SAXi AERATUS. A mixture of carbonate of soda and salt is so called in the 

 United States. It is employed in making pastry and bread, mixed with a little cream 

 of tartar or tartaric acid. 



SAXi-AAXMONTXAC. See AMMONIUM, CHLORIDE OF. 



SAXiAAXSTONE. A variety of corundum. See SAPPHIRE. 



SAXiAKTGANA. See ALGJE and SWALLOW, ESCULENT. 



SAXiEKTXXOHr. Crude sulphate of potash obtained in the manufacture of nitric 

 acid. 



SAXiEP, or SAXiOVP, is the name of the dried tuberous roots of the Orchis, im- 

 ported from Persia and Asia Minor, which are the product of a great many species 

 of the plant, but especially of the Orchis mascula. Salep occurs in commerce in small 

 oval grains, of a whitish-yellow colour, at times semi-transparent, of a horny aspect, 

 very hard, with a faint, peculiar smell, and a taste like that of gum-tragacanth, but 

 slightly saline. These are composed almost entirely of starchy matter, well adapted 

 for making a thick pap with water or milk, and are hence in great repute in the 



