ADULTERATION OF SAFFRON. 



369 



a form so characteristic, that it cannot be confounded with the 187a - 

 florets of safflower, marigold or arnica, or with the stamens of 

 crocus itself. 



It was in performing this simple operation that I detected that Carbonate of 

 some saffron which I had just purchased had been treated with 

 a heavy earthy powder, which speedily separated from the 

 lighter stigmata, and fell to the bottom of the glass. Upon col- 

 lecting and examining this powder I found it to be carbonate 

 of lime, which, by some ingenious process of which I am 

 ignorant, had been made to adhere to the thread-like saffron 

 without in the least altering its general appearance. 



To ascertain the amount of earthy matter thus fraudulently 

 added, I subjected several specimens of saffron to incineration, 

 each having in the first instance been dried in warm air until it 

 ceased to lose weight. The results obtained in the examination 

 of eight samples are indicated in the following table : 



EXAMINATION OF SAFFRON. 



Sample No. 2, the quality remarkably fine. Sample No. 3, so-called Valencia, 

 pure, but not of finest quality. Sample No. 7, adulteration perceptible to the 

 eye, many of the stamens being crusted with an orange-coloured earthy 

 powder. 



The method of testing a sample of saffron for earthy adultera- 

 tion which I recommend is this : Place in a watch-glass a very 

 small quantity (say, 1 grain) of the saffron, and drop upon it 8 

 or 10 drops of water ; lightly touch the saffron with the tip of 

 the finger, so as to cause the water to wet it. If the drug is 

 free from earthy matter, a clear, bright-yellow solution will be 

 immediately obtained ; if adulterated, a white powder will in- 

 stantly separate, causing the water to appear turbid ; and if a 



B B 



Testing 



