DRAGONS, when apothecaries’ signs, were not derived from heraldry, but were used to typify certain chemical actions. In an old German work on Alchemy,[205] one of the plates represents a dragon eating his own tail; underneath are the words,-- “Das ist gros Wunder und seltsam List, Die höchst Artzney im Drachen ist.”[206] In mediæval alchemy, the dragon seems to have been the emblem of Mercury, which appears from these words on the same print: “Mercurius recte et chymice præcipitatus vel sublimatus in sua propria aqua resolutus et rursum coagulatus.”[207] To which are added the following rhymes:-- “Ein Drach im Walde wohnend ist, An Gifft demselben nichts gebrisst; Wenn er die Sonne sieht und das Fewr So speusst er Gifft fleugt ungehewr, Kein Lebend Thier für ihm mag gnesn Der Basilisc mag ihm nit gleich wesn. Wer diesen Wurmb wol weiss zu tödtn Der kömpt auss allen seinen Nöthen. Sein Farber in seinem Todt sich vermehrn; Auss seiner Gifft Artzney thut werden. Sein Gifft verzehrt er gar und gans Und frisst sein eign vergiften Schwantz. Da mus er in sich selbst volbringen Der edelst Balsam auss ihm thut tringen, Solch grosse Tugend wird man schawen Welches alle Weysn sich hoch erfrawen.”[208] Hence the dragon became one of the “properties” of the chemist and apothecary, was painted on his drug-pots, hung up as his sign, and some dusty, stuffed crocodile hanging from the ceiling in the laboratory had to do service for the monster, and inspire the vulgar with a profound awe for the mighty man who had conquered the vicious reptile. The SALAMANDER was another animal of the same class, and also represented certain chemical actions, owing to its fabled powers of resisting the fire. The notions of early naturalists concerning this creature were very extraordinary. A Bestiarium in the Royal Library of Brussels, No. 10074, says that it lives on pure fire, and produces a substance which is neither silk nor linen, nor yet wool, of which garments are made that can only be cleaned by fire; and that if the animal itself falls into a burning fire, it would at once extinguish the flames. Bossewell, besides incombustibility, attributes to the salamander some other qualities fully as extravagant. “Among all venomenous beastes he is the mightiest of poyson and venyme. For if he creepe upon a tree, he infecteth all the apples or other fruit that groweth thereon with his poyson, and killeth them which eate thereof. Which apples, also, if they happen to falle into any pitte of water, the strength of the poyson killeth them that drinke thereof.”[209]