18 
NAT. ORDER.— IRIDACEiE. 
which bears his name. It is the same as the Crocus of the Latins, 
and Saffaran of the Arabians. It was held in much estimation by the 
Hebrews, who called it Carcom, and was greatly celebrated in ancient 
times, both by physicians and poets. 
Chemical Properties and 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, vinfegar and water : about three parts 
in four of the Saffron are taken up by each of these menstrua ; 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 greater 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. Henry 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 
