The preparation called a Kermes is a metallic extract obtained from any ore through a lye menstruum, that is by caustic soda or Sodium Hydroxide, NaOH, in a saturated solution. According to Fulcanelli the Kermes is "that which dyes red". In fact the Kermes is a red coloured sediment when extracted from Antimony by means of a lye. Some consider that the term Kermes should be used for a specific production within the metallc realm and not used as a general term as I have here.

This method of extracting a tincture from a metallic ore is said to have been very popular during the renaissance period in Europe. The example we give here is a Kermes extracted from Antimony tri-sulphide, Sb2S3, in the form of a greyish-black powder. This preparation (Kermes), in particular, because the Antimony used is a sulphide and has not previously been calcined to a white salt, or oxide, contains an extract of native or crude sulphur. Because of this we point out that when taking, as a medicinal preparation, the Kermes of Antimony tri-sulphide remember that the sulphur extract will preserve any sickness which the subject at the time might be experiencing. Therefore, it is proper that this preparation should only be administered to a subject when in good health in order to preserve that condition.

(Caution: is a dangerous to experiment with in internal consumption of alchemically prepared metallic oils. Antimony is a dangerous poison of the same magnitude as arsenic. We provide these instructions here simply as a method of demonstrating the alchemical process of extracting philosophic Sulphur (or metallic oils) and not as a guideline for preparing alchemical medicines. Do not touch antimony with your bare skin. Do not breath in antimony dust/powder. To do so could be fatal.)

METHOD

EQUIPMENT:

• 150gms Antimony tri-sulphate, Sb2S4.

• 850gms of Caustic soda, NaOH.

• 10 litres of distilled, living, rain water.

• 2 litres Glacial Acetic acid, .

• 500mls 90% rectified Alcohol

• Soxhlet extractor

• 6x 1litre glass jars.

• 1 plastic bucket.

• Rubber gloves.

• Face mask.

CAUTION:
Always wear gloves when handling Antimony, Acid and Alkali. Also, always wear a mask and work in a well ventilated environment when working with Antimony powder, Acid and Alkali fumes.

METHOD:
Step(1) Add 850gms of Caustic Soda to 1200mls of distilled rain water till saturated. (Note: reaction causes heat).

Step(2) Add to this 'lye', 150gms of Antimony tri-sulphate. Leave to cool, or cool by hand. (Note: The Caustic solution (menstruum) should quickly extract a green tincture from the Antimony. (This tincture originates primarily from the combustible external, crude or native sulphur which is present as the tri-sulphide attached to the Antimony). Some have called this the 'Green Lion'.

Step(3) Mix 1 litre of rain water and 1 litre of Glacial Acetic acid, into a solution. Carefully.

Step(4) Filter (fast filter), the Antimony-lye solution.

Step(5) Put filtrate into a large container (e.g. a plastic bucket), and slowly, with care, add the Glacial-Acetic-water solution until Ph shows neutral (7), to slightly acid.
(Note: By this action the Acetic acid neutralizes the Caustic alkali causing a throthy brownish-red powder to appear. This is the Kermes. At the same time the observer will notice the pungent odour of Hydrogen Sulphide gas being released.)

Step(6) Add a good quantity of rain water to the neutral solution containing the Kermes, and leave till the Kermes precipitates fully.
(Note: Adding the water helps to neutralize the solution and to wash the acid, and any residue caustic, out of the Kermes.)

Step(7) Once the Kermes has fully precipitated, pour off the water carefully. Put the Kermes into a large filter and cover with fresh water again to assure that any remaining acid or alkali residue is fully washed out. If the water that passes through the filter has a tincture, repeat, adding fresh water until the filtrate is clear and neutral Ph.
(Note: This process is important to ensure that no caustic salts end up in our final preparation. If, during this washing you find that the Ph is increasingly acid stop. This is a sign that you are beginning to wash the spirit out of the Kermes, which will eventually lead to the impotence and death of our preparation.)

Step(8) Dry out our Kermes slowly and carefully under an overhead heat source.

Step(9) Grind the brown-red salt obtained from this drying to a fine powder.

Step(10) Set up a soxhlet extractor with a sufficient amount of either, (a) pure Glacial Acetic, or (b) a solution of half distilled rain water and half Glacial Acetic, in the boiling flask. Put our powdered Kermes into the sock and leave to fully extract.

Step(11) When extraction is finished remove tincture from boiling flask. Decant the fluid into an airtight storage jar. Clean out any crystalline matter from boiling flask and store in a separate jar. (Note: the product we have at this stage is Antimony acetate, partly fluid in the form of a tincture and, often, partly crystaline. From this point we only discuss the further preparation of the fluid extract tincture, not the crystaline mass. Never-the-less this mass is largely Antimony Acetate, as we have said, and can be further prepared.)

Step(12) Filter (fine filter), the tincture, which should be a clear red-brown, like good claret, when finished.

Step(13) Put this clear tincture into an evaporating dish and evaporate off the acid (or acid water solution), which will leave behind a salt of creamy-white-yellow to orange color. Assure that this salt is completely dry. Wash carefully with fresh water to remove all acetic but be careful that you do not begin to wash out the spirit, which, if happening, will be indicated by a sudden rise in acid Ph. Finally store away from moisture in an airtight jar.
(Note: It is from this salt that our volitile red oil of Antimony will be extracted.)

Step(14) Grind the yellow-orange salt into a fine powder.

Step(15) Set up the soxhlet again. This time place sufficient completely rectified alcohol into the boiling flask. Set to extract our yellow-orange powder.

Step(16) When this extraction is complete filter the tincture obtained through a fine filter paper. The clear golden yellow-orange to red tincture is the Balm, oil or red volitile Sulphur of Antimony tri-sulphide.

Step(17) It is a good idea to distil off the alcohol from the Kermes by which you will obtain the pale salt again. At this point, when the salt is quite dry, put the absolute alcohol onto the salt again gently turning it in your hand. Once a good tincture has been obtained decant the volitile red oil of Antimony-trisulphide and store the remaining salts which may still have impurities.

Dosage:
Homeopathic dilution 1/1000 in pure spirit of wine.

Fulcanellis "The Mystery of the Cathedrals'. Quote:
"The Oak not only provides the gall, but it also gives the kirmis (Fr. kermes), which, in the Gay Science, has the same signification as Hermes, the initial consonants being interchangeable. The two terms have an identical meaning, namely Mercury. At any rate, while the gall gives the name of the raw mercurial matter, kirmis (Arab girmiz that which dyes scarlet) characterizes the prepared substance." And further ..."Try to separate the pure part of it, or its metallic soul as the sacred expression has it, and you will have the kirmis, the Hermes, the mercury dye which has within it the mystic gold, just as St.Christopher carries Jesus and the ram carries its own fleece."... enough said.

Native or mineral sulphur when prepared alchemically is a preservative. Therefore any sulphide preparation, as with the one we discuss here, should be considered a combination of the primary metal and sulphur.