THE  ADULTERATION  OF  SAFFRON. 
533 
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. 
Description. 
Percentage  of  Ash. 
No.  1 
Origin  unknown,    .  pure. 
5-90 
2 
4-48 
"  3 
Valencia,      ...  " 
4-41 
a  4 
5-20 
"  5 
Alicante,      .  adulterated. 
21-22 
"  6 
U                  ^  i4 
12-72 
u  7 
U  U 
28-01 
8 
15-36 
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-colored  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  imme- 
diately obtained ;  if  adulterated,  a  white  powder  will  instantly 
separate,  causing  the  water  to  appear  turbid  ;  and  if  a  drop  of 
hydrochloric  acid  be  now  added,  a  brisk  effervescence  will  take 
place. 
Saffron  almost  alwa;ys  contains  a  few  of  the  pale  yellow  sta- 
mens accidentally  gathered ;  but  the  pollen  from  them  which  is 
detached  when  the  drug  is  wetted,  but  which  is  minute  in  quan-  / 
tity,  is  easily  distinguished  from  carbonate  of  lime  by  not  dis- 
