Crocus

Authorities. 13, Wm. Alexander, M.D., Experimental Essays, London, 1770, effects on himself; 14, E. W. Berridge, Am. Journ. Horn. Mat. Med., New Ser., vol. v, 1876, p. 245, Mrs.-put 7 drops of 3d in a glass of water, and took a teaspoonful every three hours, for three or four days, for a chronic affection of the eyes; same symptoms a second time of this medicine.

[340.] While taking it throbbing pain came on in first left upper incisor, extending round to all the teeth in left upper jaw (all decayed); worse by any one walking across the room or by opening mouth ; better by quiet; the throbbing was as if the blood were being pumped through too quickly; it caused throbbing in forehead and vertex. The toothache was followed by watery diarrhoea, generally about 4 A.M., once about 10 p.m., and before and during the stool there were sharp cutting pains in abdomen, from sides of abdomen to centre, making her bend forwards, which relieved the pains ; for three or four weeks the toothache and diarrhoea alternated ; the toothache would last all day, being bad for an hour ; the diarrhoea generally from 4 A.M. to 1 or 2 p.m. ; generally had one or the other every day. The hair fell off’ temples and sides of head,'*.—10 grains of Saffron, made into a paste with a little bread, was taken in the morning on an empty stomach. It made no alteration on the mercury in the thermometer at my stomach ; it did not affect my pulse, nor operate in any manner that I could be sensible of. The next day I took 1 scruple of Saffron, which did not alter the height of the mercury, though my pulse soon after was more frequent by two or three strokes in a minute. This I imagine was accidental, as I felt no effect from my dose. Some days after I took 2 scruples. An hour afterwards I found the mercury in the thermometer at my stomach risen one degree. Upon this I expected that my pulse would be risen also, but was very much surprised to find it fallen from 72 to 66 ; and still more to find that it continued about 66 and 67 all the rest of that day. Some days after I took 4 scruples. This had no manner of effect, either on the mercury in the thermometer at my stomach or my pulse ; so that I concluded the remarkable diminishing of it in the last experiment had not been owing to any effect of the Saffron, but to some other cause. I expected it would have perhaps tinged my urine, the color of which I examined carefully from time to time, without being able to discover the least alteration in it. The excrement, however, that I passed, was very strongly tinged with it,*^