Chap. LVIII.
Dracunculus hortensis siue Serpentaria.
Dragons.
Dragons riseth out of the ground with a bare or naked round whitish stalke, spotted very much with purplish spots and strakes, bearing at the toppe therof a few greene leaues very much diuided on all sides, standing vpon long foote-stalkes, in the middle whereof (if the roote be old enough) commeth forth a great long huske or hose, green on the outside, and of a darke purplish colour on the inside, with a slender long reddish pestell or clapper in the middle: the roote is great, round, flat and whitish on the outside, and whiter within, very like vnto the rootes of Arum, or Wakerobin, and tasting somewhat sharpe like it.
The Vse of Dragons.
The chiefe vse whereunto Dragons are applyed, is, that according to an old receiued custome and tradition (and not the iudgement of any learned Author) the distilled water is giuen with Mithridatum or Treakle to expell noysome and pestilentiall vapours from the heart.