128 The Ufeful Family Herbal. 
erful Remedy, and.a {mall Dofe will take Effect, 
efpecially of the Juice, fo that it is.beft. to begin 
with very little, and as that. is well born, to increafe 
the Quantity. =H 
DRAGONS, 
| DRACONTIUM. 
A Fine tall and beautiful Plant, kept in Gar- 
dens for its Ufe in Medicine, as well as for it 
Appearance. It is four Feet high. The Stalkis 
thick, round, and firm, perfeétly fmooth, and 
painted on the Surface with feveral Colours, 
Purple, White, Green, andothers. The Leaves 
are very large, and ftand ‘on long Foot-Stalks: 
They are of a deep and ftrong Green, and each is 
divided into feveral’Portions in the Manner of 
Fingers. The Flower is like that of the com- 
mon Arum or Cuckow Pint: It is contained in @ 
hollow green Cafe, of a deep Purple within, and 
_ the Piftil is ufually alfo of a deep Purple; after 
this is fallen, appear, as in the Arum, large red 
Berries in a Clufter. The whole Plant is of at 
acrid and infupportable Tafte. a7 
~The whole Plant is to be gathered when im 
Flower, and dried; it may afterwards be given in 
- Decoétion, Powder, or otherwife. “It was vaftly 
efteemed for malignant Fevers, and in the Small 
Pox, but it has of late loft much of its Credit, a 
