OCR Text |
Show SAFFRON. SAFFRON. said that it is sometimes adulterated with the fibres of smoked From thé experiments of Dr. Alexander it would seem that Saffron possesses but verylittle active powers, aud may be taken in considerable quantities without producing any remarkable effect ; and it was but lately given at the Hdinburgh Infirmary, by Dr. Henry Cullen, even to the extent of half an ounce a day, beef, and with the flowers of the carthamus tinctorius, calens dulaofficinalis, &c. The imposition may be detected by the ab. sence of the white ends, w hich maybe observed in the real Saf. fron, by the inferior colouring power, and by the wantof smell, or unpleasant smell when thrown on live coals. Bydistillation with water Saffron furnishes a small proportion of essential oil, of a golden yellow colour, heavier than water, and possessing the characteristic smell in an eminent degree. According to Hermbstaedt, the soluble matter of Saffron is ex« tractive nearly pure. Neumannobtained from 480 dried Saffron 360 grains of watery extract which was soluble in alc ohol, except 24 of a colourless matter like sand, and afterwards 20 ofalco-~ holic; and inversely, 320 of alcoholic extract entirely soluble in water; and then 90 of w atery. raeUy On account of the great volatility of the aromatic part of the Saffron it should be y rapt up in bladder, and preserved in a box ortin case. MEDICAL USE, Saffron is a very elegant aromatic: besides the virtues which it has in common with all the bodies of f that class, it has been alleged that it raises the s pirits, and in lar;ze doses occasions ims moderate mirth, iinvoluntary i ghter, and the othereffects which follow from the abuse of 5;wiritenes liquor s. It is said to be particularly serviceable in hystalle€depre ssions, or obstructions of the uterine secretions, where other een even those of the moregenerous kind, have little efi ect. But the experiments of Dr. Alexander, and Dr. H. Caiiee: showthat it is much less powerful than wasonceix nagined ; so that of late the estimation in which it was held as a medicine has been on the decline. Such is Judicious account of this drug in the Edinburgh New Diapcad nsatory ; and weagree with them, that it must rather be considered as an adjuvant, than as’ possessing any very powerful Virtues. Dr. Cullen is of the Same sentiment, Althoughthe sensible qualities of this substance, sa ys this veteran practitioner, are pretty considerable » yet it appears to us to possess no other powerthan simplybbeing an aromatic, Rhazes confirms our opinion, for he relates giving from two to three drachms at a time with safety; and Etmallertells us of the peo ple in some parts of Poland usinggitasa condi ment, cone suming5 an ounceof it at a time. Al in several hysterical cases, without anysensible effect whatever. It is asserted by Dioscorides and Avicenna, that taken to the extent of three drachms it is a deadly poison; and thegreat Boerhaavegives it the following most extraordinary character: ‘¢ Hee planta est cordialis, aromatica, pectoralis, anodyna, hypnotica, alexiterica, et aperiens; nam habet vires integre dis. solvendi sanguinem; et vidi foeminas defluxisse ab usu nimio croci per menstrua, et viros per hemorrhagiam narium ; dein quoque homiues reddit ebrios: sic vidi casum, in quo medicus dederat viro morbo melancholico lJaboranti crocum nimis magna copia, qui inde in delirium perpetuum cum risu incidit, et ille non nisi aceto curabatur: hinc debemus nos abstinere a nimio usu hujus herbe : verumsi defectus sit spirituum, si dissolvendi humores, si bilis iners, ejusque defectus est supplendus, tam quidem cum prudentia crocus datus convenit, aliter nocet: in asthmate tamen convulsivo, tussi dyspnoea, phthisi, roborando et exhilarando corde, in mensium, lochiorum et foetus remora, et ictero conducit: frontalibus admotus phrenitidem, maniam et cephalalgiama frigido ortamtollit; in syncope et palpitatione cordis externe ventriculo applicatus eum roborat, membris paralyticis et induratis impositus mirediscutit ; crocus in aqua rosarum infusus prodest in variolis ad oculos lavandos. Hac planta etiam conducit in colica.” ‘¢ This plant is cordial, aromatic, pectoral, anodyne, hypnotic, alexiteric, and aperient. It possesses the powerof wholly dissolving the blood ; and I have seen women go into decline, by the tooliberal use of Saffron, owing to their immoderate menses 5 and men by the loss of blood from the nose : it moreover renders peopleintoxicated, a case of which kind I saw, fromthe phySician giving to awiht aeed 1ondriac too great a quantity of Saffron, which produced a continueddelirium with laughter, and he was cured only by an acid. Hence the necessity of caution in the use of this remedy. But if there be a defect of animal spirits, if the humours be thick, and the bile inactive, andthis is to be altered, then it is proper to employSaffron, otherwise it injures. Tn convulsive asthma, cough withdifficulty of breathing, phthisis, for strengthening aut éxiakataihas the heart, where thereis delay |