666 IRIDACE^. 



The Pepperers of London about the same period were also held respon- 

 sible to check dishonest tampering with saffron.^ 



In France, an edict of Henry II., of 18th March, 1550, recites the 

 advantages derived from the cultivation of saffron in many parts of the 

 kingdom, and enacts the confiscation and burning of the di'ug when 

 falsified, and corporal punishment of offenders.^ 



The authorities in Germany were far more severe. A Safranschau 

 (Safiron inspection) was established at Nuremberg in 1441, in which 

 year 13 lb. of saffron was publicly burnt at the Schonen Brunnen in 

 that city. In 1444, Jobst Findeker was burnt together with his adul- 

 terated saflTron ! And in 1456, Hans Kolbele, Lienhart Frey, and a 

 woman, implicated in falsifying saffron, were buried alive. The 

 Safranschau was still in vigour as late as 1591 : but new regulations 

 for the inspection of saffron were passed in 1613.^ There was also in 

 the same city a Geivilrzschau, or Spice-inspection, from 1441 to 1797. 

 Similar inspections were established in most German towns during the 

 middle ages. 



Description — The flower of the saffron crocus has a style 3 to 4 

 inches long, which in its lower portion is colourless, and included within 

 the tube of the perianth. In its upper part it becomes yellow, and 

 divides into three tubular, filiform, orange-red stigmas, each about an 

 inch in length. The stigmas expand towards their ends, and the tube 

 of which they consist is toothed at the edge and slit on its inner side. 

 The stigma is the only part ofi^icinal, and alone is rich in colouring 

 matter. 



Commercial saffron (Hay Saffron of the druggists) is a loose mass of 

 thread-like stigmas, which when unbroken are united in threes at the 

 upper extremity of the yellow style. It is unctuous to the touch, tough 

 and flexible ; of a deep orange-red, peculiar aromatic smell, and bitter 

 and rather pungent taste. It is hygroscopic and not easily pulverized ; 

 it loses by drying at 100° C. about 12 per cent, of moisture, which it 

 quickly reabsorbs.^ 



The colouring power of saffron is very remarkable : we have found 

 that a single grain rubbed to fine powder with a little sugar will impart 

 a distinct tint of yellow to 700,000 grains (10 gallons) of water. 



Microscopic Structure — The tissue of the stigma consists of very 

 thin, sinuous, closely-felted, thread-shaped cells, and small spiral vessels. 

 The yellow colouring matter penetrates the whole, and is partly de- 

 posited in granules. The microscope likewise exhibits oil-drops, and 

 small lumps, probably of a solid fat. Large isolated pollen grains are 

 also present. 



Chemical Composition — The splendid colouring matter of saflTron 

 has long been known as Polychroit; but in 1851 Quadrat, who instituted 

 some fresh researches on the drug, gave it the name of Crocin, which was 



^ Hiley, Memorials of London and London * Eight lots of saffron weighing in Mo 



Life in the lSt?i, lith, and \5th centuries, 61 lb., dried at various times during the 



1868. 120. course of nine years, lost 7 lb. 2\ oz., i.e. 



2 De la Mare, TraitA de la Police, Paris, 11 "7 per cent. — (Laboratory records of 



iii. (1719) 428. Messrs. Allen & Hanburys, Plough Court, 



^ J. F. Roth, GescMclde des Niirnbergi- Lombard Street. ) 

 schen Handela, 1800-1802, iv. 221. 



