200 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



weakness of the heart, that he died. He 

 also tells us, that he was informed, that 

 horses which carry loads of saffron generally 

 died of a bloody discharge.* 



Amatus (in Dioscorid.) gives an account of 

 one Agaso, a native of Pesaro, who happen- 

 ing to sleep upon two small bags of saffron, 

 died the same night ; and, according to the 

 same author, a merchant, after throwing a 

 large quantity of saffron into a pot containing 

 some soup, which he intended for his supper, 

 was, upon eating the soup, seized with so vio- 

 lent a fit of laughter that he was near dying. 



We have accounts of many females, who 

 have lost their lives by taking saffron in too 

 large quantities. It is therefore obvious, 

 that as the moderate use of saffron is bene- 

 ficial in many diseases, so is it dangerous 

 when taken unseasonably, or in too large 

 doses. For this reason Boerhaave classed it 

 among the narcotic poisons. Dr. James 

 says, the largest dose for such as are not ac- 

 customed to it, ought not to exceed half 

 a scruple ; but that it may be gradually in- 

 creased to half a dram. 



The best saffron is of a full orange colour, 



# Observationes Medico-physicae, cent. 4, obs. 35. 



