If a husband runs away from his wife she buys a pennyworth of Dragon's
Blood, wraps it in paper, and places it under her pillow when she goes
to bed, and it is sure to draw him back again.
A chemist in Peterborough had a letter a few years since, from a woman
in the Fens, asking him to send her a "pennorth of Dragons Blood" for
this very purpose; and the following shows that the custom is in use,
even in the United States of America, at the present time according to
the following extract from the "Daily Express" of 18th February, 1905:
Drank Dragon's Blood.
Buffalo Bill's wife gave him love Philtres.
"Express" Correspondent.
Cheyenne (Wyoming), Friday, February 17th., 1905.
It came out, during the hearing of Buffalo Bill's divorce case to-day,
that he had been dosed with many love Philtres.
Mrs. Cody, his wife, was extremely jealous of him and imagining that his
affection for her was gone, mixed gipsy love potions in his drinks. One
of these, which was supposed to be particularly efficacious, was known
as "Dragon's Blood."
Mrs. Parker, a witness, told the court that Mrs. Cody believed that
every woman was infatuated with her husband, and confided to her the
names of many prominent women who, she said, were in love with him.
The witness stated, in cross examination, that during these outbursts of
jealousy Colonel Cody was beside himself with rage.
Dragon's Blood is not a fluid. It is a resin from certain kinds of palm.
At Oundle "There is a Well that is credibly reported to drum as a
presage of very great alterations to publick affairs." M.S.S. dated
1703, of the Phillips Stourhead Collection, No. 22244.