Excerpts from Alchemical Laboratory Bulletins

Hints on the Herbal Process

During the instruction period the most simple and basic methods are demonstrated and then
applied by the student to prove the law under consideration. It must not be assumed that this is
the only way by which the herbal substances can be brought into the state of medicinal
preparation. After separation of the three essentials, namely: Sulphur, Salt and Mercury, out of
any of the plants in question, the process of purification has still puzzled some. The objective of
the whitening or purging of the extraneous substances, still adhering to the three separated
essentials, is to prepare them for their conjunction. All three must be in pure condition before it
can be accomplished to the satisfaction of the spagyrist. It has been found that after the first day
of calcination of the feces, the salt, after it has been purged of the black color and begins to show
the gray it can then be covered with a wire gauze such as is used to place underneath a flask for
distillation so that the asbestos shield will cover the calcining dish. It seems that the whitening
will take place faster and, most important, the fine fluffy substance now forming (the snow) will
not be drifted off by the heat. Likewise, the sulphur (alchemical soul substance) which is always
pure in itself and has only on the exterior the impurities clinging to it, will yield much faster to
purgation. As was noted in the laboratory here, when the process is demonstrated, in a few days
the sulphur became as white as snow and even showed crystalline formations. These are the true
organic mineral salts where the oily appearance of the sulphur now has become pure. That it
reacts differently from the salt when calcined was proven by its cohesion and adhesion when
lifted from the dish. The spoon or spatula turned around would not let the calcined sulphur fall
off. Experiments with the salt showed that it would not do that but would fall off as soon as the
spoon or spatula was turned upside down.
Since both will, in the course of time, have become white, common observation will not be able
to keep them apart. The conjunction is then performed by having the mercury of the vegetable
kingdom purified as described in the Alchemists Handbook and the three, when absolutely pure,
are then conjoined in three equal parts by either volume or weight. They will fuse when put into
a vial and subjected to moderate heat. When they become too dry more of the purified mercury
of the vegetable should be added until in the course of time it will congeal and become hard, as
was shown.
The purified salt, sulphur and mercury can also be placed in a small Erlenmeyer flask with a
condenser, preferably a coil condenser, attached to the top in an upright position and the
circulation thus performed. Care should be taken not to have an excess of mercury in the flask.
The conjunction should take place over a moderate fire to begin with and the fire can be
increased as time goes on and the hardening becomes visible. Even then gradually adding more
of the mercury and keeping the process going for sometime will increase the potency.
Another way has been tried and will work also when not sufficient equipment is at hand. The
purfied or near purified substances when having attained a gray coloring are placed in a bottle or
vial and subjected to continuous heat. In the tightly closed vessel it will become solid and change
color and whiten as time goes on. The purer the substance the better and the sooner the whitening
will occur.
The circulation described above using the coil condenser attached to the top the gray calcined
sulphur and salt can be added and circulated in a like manner.
Another way is to take the feces only, calcining them while the extracted tincture, derived by
distillation from alcohol or water is being reserved and then added to the calcined feces that
remained behind in the distillation flask. Constant circulation and repeated redistillation and
cohobation upon the calcined feces in the retort or distillation flask will also produce the desired
results. As can be seen there are many ways by which the desired results can be obtained. Know
the law involved, understand its applications and then use not only the head but also the
intelligence which the dear Lord has given you. After all you are the one who is going to bring
about the result and not the book learning or the notes that you wrote down.

HOW TO GET STARTED IN ALCHEMY

This IS INTENDED FOR those who have read or studied about alchemy and are now preparing
themselves to commence their work in the laboratory. As this will prove to be a most interesting
and enlightening task, it should not be undertaken carelessly. First of all, the place selected for
the work about to begin, is of importance. The space required is not large. A corner in the
basement or in an attic, perhaps even a garage, will do, as long as there is a constant source of
heat available. Cold water should also be close by for the cooling of the condenser tube. A few
bottles and flasks and a mortar and pestle are desirable, if not necessary, to have the ingredients
handy and protected, also for the grinding of the dried herbs and other substances to be worked
with.
A table and chair just about complete the furnishings. The table or workbench should be so
located that the heat and water source are very close by and handy, as the gas flame or electric
heat, whichever is available is constantly needed. For the gas flame, a Bunsen burner, or better
still, a Fisher burner are recommended. As for the flasks, the flat-bottom type, called Erlenmeyer
flasks, are best for us. For stoppers, both types, cork and rubber, are needed. A small mixed
assortment will last a long time. A support to bring the flask over the flame, to hold it in a rigid
position when used for distillation, also is required. It can either be bought or be homemade, as
long as it meets the requirements.
Since the most important implements will, no doubt, be known by now to the beginner, we shall
begin by getting the substance prepared, that is to be alchemically to be worked with. Let us
choose a herb that is easily available. Say, Melissa (Melissa officinalis-lemon balm). Since it is
an important herb and any herbal supply house can furnish it, we shall use it g, an example in our
first experiment.
The dried herb usually works best. The first step, is to ascertain that it is the correct herb. This
may seem superfluous but it is not. There is, for example, a difference between wild and garden
sage in our work. The flowers of the wild sage again produce a different medication. Therefore
always make sure the herbal substance involved is the desired one.
Next in procedure is the grinding of the herb. This may be accomplished by rubbing between the
hands or by grinding it with the pestle in the mortar. The more minute the particles the easier the
extraction. Having accomplished this, the next step is to place it in a flask, bottle or container,
preferably glass, that can be well closed, over which is poured the menstruum to extract it with.
The easiest way is to pour some strong alcohol (NEVER use denatured alcohol or Methanol),
preferably brandy, over the herb in the flask or bottle, then close it tightly and put it on top, or
near the furnace in the winter, or provide it with a gentle warmth not to exceed the temperature
required for the hatching of chicken eggs. Allow at least one-half to one-third of the container to
be empty above the herb immersed in the menstruum, so it has room for expansion and to relieve
some of the pressure that may build up within the container.
After several days the menstruum will be colored green. The shade of the color will depend on
the type of Melissa used and the strength and pureness of the alcohol. When sufficiently
macerated, (this process is called maceration) the liquid is to be poured off into a clean glass
container and the remaining herbal substance should be placed in an earthenware dish, and then
be burnt to ashes. This is accomplished by taking it outdoors and by igniting it. The alcohol,
which has saturated it, will catch fire and will burn the leftover of the herb, now called feces, to
black ashes. As this will cause smoke and smell, similar to the burning of weeds in the fall, care
should be taken not to do this in a room.
After the burning of the feces, as we shall call them from now on, they can be incinerated over
the open flame in earthenware, or any fire resistant dish, until they become a light gray. An
occasional grinding in the mortar, with the pestle, and then reburning, which we shall now call
"calcining," will let the lightening of the feces become noticeable. When this state has been
arrived at they should be removed from the fire and, while still warm, be placed into a flask,
which has been preheated, so as not to break it from the sudden temperature change, over which
is the poured-off essence to be added. The flask must again be tightly stoppered so that no
alcohol fumes can escape and again be subjected to moderate heat for digestion
After several weeks, depending on the constantly retained degree of heat and the careful
preparation before, the liquid must again be poured off. During this interval of digestion it is
assumed that the feces have absorbed enough of the essence necessary for the formation of the
required strength. With the feces left in the flask, it will need again to be stoppered and for
another few weeks brought in contact with the moderate warmth, so essential for its concoction.
After a few more weeks, the medication is then ready for use. It is absolutely harmless but of
high potency and should be taken in minute amounts. A few grains in a glass of distilled water
will produce exhilarating results. This is the most primitive and simplest form for the preparation
of an herbal substance, according to the precepts of Alchemy.
As logically quite some time will have elapsed during the maceration period, the time interval
has to be put to beneficial use. In the meantime we shall attempt to procure a pure menstruum
from alcohol, or spirits of wine. Since there are various kinds of alcohol, we are chiefly
concerned with but one, at the outset of our work. This is the spirit of wine. As wine generally
contains less than 20% of alcohol by natural fermentation, this alcohol (spirits of wine) has to be
extracted. Remember, apple wine, loganberry wine, etc., are not grape wines. Therefore, we stay
with wine fermented from the grape. The tyro in our work has to go step by step to master
eventually the essential fundamentals. At present we are concerned about learning all these steps
ourselves gradually, as this is so important, especially later, in our more progressed work. We,
therefore, take some pure unadultered wine, or grape brandy, and pour a sufficient amount into a
flask for distillation. The amount depends on the flask at hand. It should never be filled more
than half full. Then, in a rubber or cork stopper, two holes are to be inserted to fit tightly a
thermometer and a bent glass tube. The thermometer shall not touch the wine and the bent glass
tube reaches barely below the stopper. Now we need a condenser. This may be purchased from
any chemical supply house. The bent glass tube from the flask is inserted into the stopper that
closes the condenser opening.
We have formed now what is called a distillation train. The water to cool the condenser will have
to be connected with a rubber tube from the tap, which needs an adapter for this purpose, to the
condenser jacket, where it will flow out at the top opening back into the floor or sink drain. This
will cool the vapor, or steam, that rises from the heated flask and drips out of the bottom end of
the condenser into a receptacle. When all this is set up, the heat under the flask will have to be
started and before long, the wine will begin to boil and the vapor begins to rise, goes up through
the bent glass tube and will enter the condenser, where the cooling water around the inner tube
will let it emerge at the end as a distillate, dripping into the receiver. The heat should be so
regulated that the first distillation will not exceed 80 degrees centigrade. The thermometer will
show what it takes on heat to maintain this temperature.
When about 15 or so drops have distilled over and the temperature has been regulated and the
thermometer shows the same degree of heat, the receiver may be attached to the condenser end,
to avoid evaporation of the alcohol and any possible ignition of the fumes. This, however, should
be done only after the pressure in the distillation train has become equalized, and this will be
after some of the liquid has come over. When the temperature begins to rise to above 85 degree
celsius and all of the alcohol has come over but with it still some traces of water, the train may
then be disconnected, after the flame has been extinguished and the vessels have cooled off
enough to be safely handled.
The residue of the wine can now be discarded as it is of no further use to us at present. The
distillate we save. Depending on the amount of wine used for the distillation we either have to
distill some more or, if the alcohol in the receiver exceeds 100 milliliter, we can then begin with
the rectification of the spirits of wine. As our distilled spirits of wine is not pure as yet it has to
undergo several more distillations to become absolute alcohol. This is accomplished by
redistillation, exactly as the first time, only the newly distilled wine is poured back every time
into the distillation flask. There will always remain a small amount of cloudy residue after each
distillation, which we discard, as it contains still some water. During these subsequent
distillations the temperature has to be about 78 degrees centigrade. Only during the last,
approximately seven times are sufficient, should the temperature be 76 degrees. The final
menstruum is more potent when we macerate a herb in it. As it contains no more traces of water
it reaches the spiritual essence of the herb in shorter time and moi-e effectively.
There is another way to purif3r the spirits of wine with potassium carbonate anhydrous. This
process we do not use in the beginning. Since with the purified spirits of wine we obtain better
results in our work we shall always use it for the extraction in the herbal work.
(In the following installments we shall consider the extraction of herbs by distillation with yet
another menstruum and continue until we end with the mineral and metallic essences.)
Start with the herbal extraction first, in order to familiarize yourself with the procedure. Too
much time is being consumed when metallic extractions at first are undertaken. The process
requires great knowledge and perseverance that can only be obtained after a greater length of
time. You can rejoice exceedingly by preparing the alchemical herbal medications to bring your
body in the desired condition to make it possible to be physically more enduring in your tedious
work ahead. It is almost unbelievable what potent remedies can be prepared out of the Vegetable
Kingdom, to restore the soundness of the human body. Not to mention what' the mineral
(metallic) extractions make possible.
The "Vinegar" of Antimony is extracted out of living Antimony. Plain distilled water will extract
it, which is a sour as the name indicates and the taste proofs. Do not use any acetous substances
for its extraction, or you will not be able to tell which is the vinegar of Antimony and your
menstrum, when it comes over. A Soxhlet Extractor worked very well. An Alundum, medium-
sized Thimble was used.
Paracelsus has proven himself correct in all the experiments, so far accomplished. Once you have
the key, his instructions are very precise. Allowing for the more and better adapted modern
equipment, some results can even be obtained in shorter time intervals, as we can now in the
laboratory thermostatically control, what formerly was tedious manual operation.
To further our experimental knowledge in the laboratory step by step we may now consider
again some of those important but often neglected manual operations. When purifying any
medical substance be sure that you clean them and not just rinse them a little in water. By doing
so do avoid destroying their inherent virtues through careless handling; such as leaving them
compressed in containers half closed for a greater length of time. You may wash herbs by
immersion in cold water and gently swaying them to remove any foreign matter and dirt
adhering to them. But do not prolong the process of cleaning more than necessary. While drying
the herbs, barks or roots do not pack them tightly but scatter them loosely on paper and place
them so that a stream of fresh air can easily circulate over them.
If you have not a laboratory and little of any equipment do not become discouraged. A fruit jar
that can be sealed is a wonderful vessel for many of the basic operations. Place the substance to
be macerated in it and pour over it either the alcohol or ether and if you have neither one use
plain water. Except for the water, seal the jar tightly and leave alone in moderate warmth for
digestion. When using water you will embark on a different path that will prove very interesting.
Make a hole in the lid large enough to take a little robber hose or a bent glass tube and immerse
the end of it in a glass of water so that the tube is covered with water. After some days the herbal
substance will begin to ferment and the gas that is formed will escape through the tube and form
a bubble in the water while escaping. This way no air can enter and the fermentation takes place
naturally. You can hasten the process by adding a small amount of yeast or sugar. It will prove
very interesting to experiment with the various ways and to observe the results. This process of
fermenting the herbs is especially important later on when you have progressed in the alchemical
work.
To the beginner it may appear rather complicated what Paracelsus says concerning the separation
of vegetables. Nevertheless it shall be included here and provide the alchemistical student with
much food to digest because to eventually understand the process described is essential.
"The separation of those things which grow out of the earth and are combustible, such as fruits,
herbs, flowers, leaves, grasses, roots, woods, etc., is also arranged in many ways. By distillation
is separated from them first the phlegma, afterwards the Mercury, after this the oil, fourthly their
sulphur, lastly their salt. When all these separations are made according to Spagyric Art,
remarkable and excellent medicaments are the result, both for internal and external use.
"But when laziness has grown to such an extent among physicians, and all work and every
pursuit are turned only to insolence, I do not wonder, indeed, that preparations of this kind are
everywhere neglected and that coals stand at so low a price. If smiths could do without coals for
forging and fashioning metals as easily as these physicians do without them in preparing their
medicines, there is no doubt that all the coal merchants would have been before now reduced to
extreme beggary. In the meantime. I extol and adorn, with the eulogium rightly due to them, the
Spagyric physicians. These do not give themselves up to ease and idleness about with a haughty
gait dressed in silk with rings ostentatiously displayed on their fingers or silvered poignards fixed
on their loins, and sleek gloves on their hands. But they devote themselves diligently to their
labors, sweeting whole nights and days over fiery furnaces. These do not kill the time with empty
talk, but find their delight in their laboratory. They are clad in leathern garments, and wear a
girdle to wipe their hands upon. They put their fingers among the coals, the Lute, and the dung,
not into gold rings. Like blacksmiths, and coal merchants, they are sooty and dirty and do not
look proudly with sleek countenance. In presence of the sick they do not chatter and vaunt their
own medicines. They perceive that the work should glorify the workman, not the workman the
work, and that fine words go a very little way towards curing sick folks. Passing by all these
vanities, therefore, they rejoice to be occupied at the fire and to learn the steps of alchemical
knowledge. Of this class are: Distillation, Resolution, Putrefaction, Extraction, Calcination,
Reverberation, Sublimation, Fixation, Separation, Reduction, Coagulation, Tincture and the like.
"But how all there separations are made according to Spagyric and Alchemical Art by the help of
distinct degrees has before been said generally, and to repeat the very same thing here anew is
vain. To go on to specialties and briefly explain the practical method, let it be known that all
cannot be separated by one and the same process; that is to say, the water, spirit, liquid, oil, etc.,
from herbs, flowers, seed leaves, roots, trees, fruits, woods, according to the grade of distillation.
"Herbs require one process, flowers another, seeds another, Leaves another, roots another, trees,
stalks, and stems another, fruits another, woods another, etc. And in this grade of distillation the
four degrees of fire have to be considered. The first degree of fire is the Balneum Mariae. This is
the distillation made in water. The second degree of fire is distillation made in ashes. The third is
in sand the fourth in free fire, as also distillation is generally made by aqua fortis and other
violent waters. Herbs, flowers, seeds, and the like, require the first degree of fire. Leaves, fruits,
etc., need the second. Roots, branches and trunks of trees, etc., require the third. Timber and the
like require the fourth. Each of these substances must be minutely cut up or pounded before
being brought into the still. So much has been said as to the distillation of waters and vegetable
substances. As regards the separation and distillation of oils the same process must be followed
as we have spoken of in the separation of waters, except that, for the most part they have to be
distilled by descent. They cannot, like waters ascend in the still; therefore in this case the process
has to be changed. Liquids however are not separated like waters and oils, by distillation, but are
squeezed out from their corporeal substances under a press. And here it should be known that
some oils, in like manner, just as liquids are squeezed out from their corporeal substances and
separated by means of the press for this reason, that they can bear scarcely any combustion or
heat of the fire, but acquire therefrom an unpleasant odor. Of this kind are the oils of almonds,
nuts, hard eggs, and the like. This also is to be noted, that all oils, if they are prepared or
coagulated according to Spagyric and Alchemical Art, pour forth varnish, electuary gum or a
kind of resin, which might also be called a sulphur; and if the species left in the still were
calcined and reduced to ashes, alkali could be extracted and separated from them with simple
warm water alone. The ash which is left is called dead Earth, nor can anything more be produced
or separated from it."
BEFORE GOING ANY deeper into the laboratory procedures and to avoid any possible mistakes,
it should be remembered that results depend on the preparations preceding the actual manual
work in the laboratory. In Alchemy any process that is being tried out to produce results must
carefully follow the instructions given. It has been found to be of an immense help to be mentally
and, if possible, above all, to be spiritually prepared. How can this be accomplished? By
contemplation. Any scientist has to contemplate the way he wishes to choose for his intended
work. Once this is accomplished it needs a concentrated effort, which is achieved by
concentration on the work to be done.
If a mystically inclined person speaks of meditation, it is just as well, as the process in the end is
the same and only the approach differs one from the other. The more one is prepared for the
work to be accomplished in either an abstract scientific or mystical way; the better will be its
manifestation. The sincere student will eventually be able to prove to him or herself that a
Scientist can be a Mystic and vice versa. This established personal proof will remove many a
barrier and open up far greater vistas that will help to procure what the aspirant desires.
It is not unreasonable to try to acquire the Philosophers Stone, neither to make efforts to reach
planets in outer space, not as yet conquered by humans. One must have faith in its undertaking
and be firm in the persuance of ones objective. Great men were called great AFTER they
accomplished their goal. Before that, many unkind names were given to them, and much ridicule
was their daily fare.
Many, if not most, came from humble beginnings; had little schooling until they contemplated
the work that was to be their lifes effort. If you desire to make the Philosophers Stone, DO IT.
Only by working on our plans can they be turned into actualities. Should the law of Duality be
not clear to your understanding and your belief center on the Philosophers Stone as a
transcendental subject, by all means continue on this line of thought, as it is the beginning, that
will help to open the Portal to the Alchemists Laboratory. You must produce the STONE within
you first, before you can hold it tangibly in your praying hands.
Anything that exists does so because of the law of Duality. If the Philosophers Stone exists in the
world of Ideas and Thoughts then its counterpart will be found in its material manifestation and
must lawfully appear as material evidence. True, not the manifestation as material substance but
the inherent power is the real thing. Nevertheless, it does exist, according to the law of Duality.
As all Alchemical Neophites have come to know that our main object is to lay bare the mercurial
Quintessence in either of the three kingdoms, and to separate from it the Sulphur, later to be
added again to its Mercury and purified Salt, so must every Zealator in the Hermetic Work learn
how to separate his Inner Being from the Outer Man and be able to form a greater and better
Human Being.
Ponder again over the inter-relationship of things in the last BULLETIN and see how far you
have been able to transmute your baser tendencies (metals) into the more refined ones. Are your
Cardinal virtues equaling your cardinal Sins? The greater and higher your aim the more thorough
must your preparation be. It can be done.
Simple, honest and truthful individuals have, with their sincerity, accomplished many things that
schooled intellectuals have not been able to produce. It is, in almost every case, the sincerity in
an attempted undertaking that forecasts the eventual result. Should personal greed motify ones
aim, little can be expected. Altruistic endeavors to be of service to humanity and glorify by ones
labor the Divine for the great blessing of just "Being," on the other hand, have helped many a
sincere soul to reach realms far beyond their fondest dreams and aspirations. It may sound
outmoded to some in our otherwise so-called rational approach, how to go about in deciphering
alchemical secrets and making them public property. Just the same, only harmony in thought and
action will produce harmonious results. And that is an Alchemists Aim.
First find Peace and Contentment within you. Then set out on your fascinating and rewarding
journey to the land of the Alchemists. No matter how far you travel, no matter how little you
think that you have accomplished at your journeys end, rest assured it was more than worth your
while. Much more! Your healthier outlook in life embodied in a healthier physical appearance
will let Body, Soul and Mind become a Cosmic Salt, Sulphur and Mercury. Then it takes only
the Master within you to join them in proper proportions to let you become actually a living
Philosophers Stone, who can give and never be depleted; who can heal and provide spiritually,
mentally AND physically.
AS was stated before we shall now consider another way to extract the essence of an herb.
Instead of using alcohol we shall use ether. Ether (Squibb, for anesthesia) in copper-coated tin
cans can be purchased from any chemical supply house and costs less by volume than pure
alcohol. The procedure differs somewhat from that with alcohol, as extreme caution must be
used NOT to have any open flame or sparking equipment nearby. The following experiment is
given verbatim as written down by some alchemical students who performed for the first time
the described ether extraction. This way novices can muster courage to perform these simple
experiments by knowing that others too had a "first" time to get started. Attention is called to the
fact that the evaporation as described below should take place outdoors, or at least by an open
window, to avoid the breathing of the ether fumes.
"This is a simple method of obtaining the essence of herbs. For the here described procedure we
used German Camomile. We took ether as a menstrum. Great care should be exercised when
working with ether. Never should there be an open flame or sparks close by, because of
explosion.
We poured the contents of a can of ether into a bottle which can be closed air-tight with a ground
glass stopper, which should be moistened first with pure alcohol.
Then we weighed 29 gr. of German Chamomile, put it in a bottle measured 300-ml. ether in a
measuring cylinder and poured it over the chamomile. We closed the bottle also with a glass
stopper. This we let stand 48 hours for maceration (a process to soften by steeping in liquid).
Then we filtered the liquid into an Erlenmeyer flask through a funnel, in which we had placed a
sheet of filter paper No. 5, which we also moistened first with pure alcohol. This flask we left
open for the ether to evaporate to 45 ml. We then added 30 ml. of pure alcohol (three times
distilled at 76 deg. C.) and let it stand open again until the rest of the ether evaporated, which
took four days. This left us with the pure essence of chamomile. We put this in an airtight flask.
Dr. Nicholas Culpeper writes in his "Complete Herbal" that the Egyptians dedicated the
chamomile to the Sun because of its great healing power. It cures pains in the sides and region of
the liver and spleen, is good for the bladder, provokes urine, eases all pains of colic, stones and
the belly and comforts overstrained sinews.
FROM WHAT THE STUDENTS wrote in the foregoing, it can be seen that the ether extraction
is a rather simple process. Considering besides that the cost of ether is less than alcohol, one can
understand why some prefer it. In this case it should be noted that the ether can be recovered,
that is, most of it if the process is conducted like an ordinary alcohol extraction in an extraction
apparatus or distillation flask. Care should be used however, to place a wet strip of cloth around
the condenser opening, before the receiver is connected to it, to prevent the escaping ether fumes
from reaching the outside of the flask. This will take a little training, but experience will teach
that it can be safely handled, provided that no open flame is under any circumstances used. An
electric hotplate, a sandbath or, with some ingenuity of the laborant, even a waterbath may be
used.
A sandbath is used to regulate the heat, especially from rising, when a constant temperature is
wanted. Any ordinary dish of porcelain or crockery can be used and clean, fine, washed sand
placed in it, will make a very suitable sandbath. As the student will find out, some
experimentation with the various items shows what is best suited to the prevailing circumstances
and equipment on hand. It is this improvising where the ingenuity of the young alchemist, and
for this reason also the more advanced one, will make some of the most promising discoveries.
A word of caution will not be amiss to be inserted here: when working with any of the volatile
and in some cases explosive solvents, such as ether, alcohol, etc., the experimentation should not
be stretched too far, but always remain within the domain of reason and be used sparingly. That
is, in small amounts, before the desired results are obtained.
While experimenting with the foregoing the student should never lose sight of the fact that a
gradual unfoldment will take place that makes possible the understanding what is being
performed in the laboratory.
The first step that the aspirant takes is not the one into the laboratory, but within. Why then,
emphasize so much the laboratory aspect, if it is necessary to start within? It is very simple. Too
many are inclined to believe that the inner unfoldment and spiritual awakening towards this great
new field encompasses only the inner men. It was so, then there would be no need for men to
travel on this earth and become acquainted with matter in such coarse forms as surrounds him.
Though originally emanating from one source, men, nevertheless, represent a composite
organism -spiritual, mental and physical. It is of little value to argue the importance of one over
the other. The equilibrium is maintained by paying attention to the three composite parts trying
to develop each according to the prevailing needs. At times we are physically under developed or
over developed. This holds true also for the spiritual and mental capacities inherent in each
individual. Now, in Alchemy, which comprises all three aspects and unifies them again in the
end on the road of evolution, this whole matter becomes simpler and more understandable in its
outline, provided one is properly guided. This guidance depends on the willingness of the
individual and its attitude towards the whole matter.
When, therefore, the turning point has been reached where the individual realizes that there must
be more to it than what has up to now been accomplished and more light needs to be shed on this
matter for the further progress that is strived for, then it becomes essential to know where one fits
into the other; or better how they integrated to become united again the eventual One.
Let us analyze the spiritual aspect first.
Since the spiritual development comprises presently the highest obtainable aspect of the three, it
will become apparent that in order to know more about and to experience its effects the lesser
that of the mental and physical development, need to be considered first. Mentally active
individuals develop this trait more than the physical ones and conversely there is a fast difference
as to how to go about the proper training.
It may be not amiss to stress the thought to develop a mental and physical harmony right from
the beginning. Those afflicted with one or the other will naturally place more emphasis on the
correction of the lacking qualities. For the average and normal individual, however, who is
looking towards the fulfillment of his desires, that is to become a more and better integrated
personality, a regimen that provides for both should be considered right from the start. There is
no need to go into detail as to how to get started along this line as most are emerging from
fraternal affiliations that teach and stress this point especially. But there comes a time in the
student's life where he or she is confronted with the fact that more is to be accomplished then just
the theoretical aspects of mental and physical efficiency. This is where the Alchemy of the
individual begins. It is from within where the way is found to understand what it is that
surrounds the individual. Namely, the commonplace material things that are accepted because
they are simply here and to be used. It is then that a new horizon emerges; that a new world
begins to dawn ... wherein the Creator of the Universe reveals itself. All the potentials that lie
hidden from the eyes of the profane begin to reveal themselves and become available to the
searching soul-segment of the great Oversoul or Cosmic Soul to be used and to be applied for the
raising of the vibrations within and without. To become acquainted with these higher laws of
evolution, of the raising of the vibrations, this constitutes Alchemy.
Since in this life everything is based upon the law of polarities or duality as it is commonly
called, the workings of these laws need to be studied and mastered to bring about the desired
results. This means a knowledge, not just a belief, but practical knowledge of the working of
these laws as they manifest in the life of the individual here and now--both physically and
mentally--to make possible the spiritual unfoldment of the great Cosmic scheme that lies behind
all these appearances in this mundane life.
It will be easier to understand now for many why no results in the laboratory with prematurely
attempted experiments have been produced. Anything that is to be accomplished in the
laboratory has to be produced within first. Just like the dross from the vegetable and mineral has
to be eliminated in order to set the essence free, so has the individual to eliminate the dross of
mental substance first. "As a man thinketh, so is he." Out of the thought evolves the action either
positive or negative. The results are exactly identical.
True. It is difficult for the individual alone to delve into the so-called mysteries of Alchemy and
find a pathway that leads to the fulfillment of the desires. It is not necessary, however, to follow
such a course, unless it has been attempted while one is very young as the years in this life count.
In association with those who have worked along alchemistical lines, an exchange of thoughts
and experiments will prove very beneficial. If this is followed up by studying with those capable
to teach more on the subject matter, it is easily conceivable how one can reach his goal much
sooner.
It should not be overlooked that a change in the procedure of the teaching in Alchemy is taking
place. Where formerly much stress was placed on the individual, it is now the group spirit that is
emphasized by the Hierarchy. Where formerly in the past centuries, scattered individuals wanted
to be instructed, there is now a much greater number of searching individuals to be found. And it
is for this reason that the group spirit is stressed so much, as combined effort brings forth a
greater stream of advanced vibration whereby mankind as a whole can benefit. Those who work
in conjunction with these groups will emerge as the so-called World Servers, as they are called
by the Hierarchy, and are trained to become leaders to perform the tasks outlined to them that
they should accomplish in this life as their mission among mankind.
This will begin to let the true picture of the real Alchemist emerge. Gone are the times where one
individual here and there had to look for greater lengths of time to find one of like mind. Today
students of mysticism and the occult sciences are found by the thousands. As is to be anticipated,
not all are of the same degree of advancement; but the fact remains students of the higher
sciences are to be found all over the world. It is the work of the Cosmic Hosts to separate and
form into groups those soul segments so they can be taught according to their state of
development. During previous incarnations, traits and characteristics have emerged that need to
be developed now to make further progress possible.
It would be a great fallacy to expect everyone to become an Alchemist. There are many and
various ways and roads whereby an individual can attain his goal. In the end, however, Alchemy,
as it is understood among the initiates, is necessary to be understood in its fullness which makes
one then an Alchemist. This is not the end of the line of progression but constitutes a milestone, a
mark of accomplishment on the road of evolution. Whoever has entered the portal to the
alchemist's temple surely has gone a long way in his former lives, otherwise he or she could not
enter. It is therefore paramount to keep in mind that a proper orientation is essential to begin this
great work. By starting the transmutation of the baser tendencies within will the rocky road
become more level as time goes on and make possible the accomplishment in physical
manifestation what has to be learned and mastered in order to become one of those who presently
help guide the destiny of nations on the earth and its present welfare.
The need is great and urgent for servants to administer under the guidance of the Masters to the
needs of humanity. Those who feel that they should enter into the spagyrists temple should not
hesitate but make every effort to gain the knowledge that is offered to them concerning this
monumental work to be accomplished by the Alchemist of this, our own, day.

Paracelsus Says:
"It must be known concerning wine that the dregs and the phlegm are, as it were, the mineral,
and that the substance of the wine is the body in which the essence is preserved, even as the
essence of gold is latent in gold. According to which we put the practice on record, that so we
may not forget it, as follows:
"Take very old wine, the best you can get as to color and taste, and of the same as much as you
please. Pour this into a glass vessel, so that the third part thereof may be full. Close it
hermetically, and keep it in horse dung for four months at a continuous heat, which heat do not
allow to slacken. Having done this, then, in the winter season, when the frost and cold are
excessive, let it be exposed to them for a month, that it may be frozen. In this way the cold
thrusts the spirit of the wine and separates it from the phlegm. Throw away that which is frozen,
but that which is not frozen you must consider to be the spirit with the substance. Having placed
this in a pelican with a digestion of sand, not too hot; let it remain there for some time.
Afterwards take out the magistery of the wine, concerning which we have spoken."
From the foregoing it can be seen how fortunate 'the present-day alchemistical aspirant is. He
does not have to find the dung heap nor does he have to wait for the winter to come. An
incubator or deep freeze will let him do the very same at any season of the year in his own
laboratory.

Translation from our Old Books

A short tract of the particular and universal tinctures by an unknown artist, Nurnberg 1676
"For a long time alchemists have complained very strongly that they could not produce a croci
martis that would unite with quicksilver and then, when added to Luna, would change it. Some
have taken iron filings boiled in vitriol, rubbed it with mercurio until they could see an amalgam
and accomplished nothing. Others, again, dissolved layer upon layer of iron in aqua fortis,
thereafter reverberated it until it became glowing red. Some wanted to be even more clever and
poured vinegar upon it, extracted its redness and coagulated one part and reverberated the marti
until it became quite subtle. All this effort failed for a useful fluidic crocum could not be
produced.
The correct way I shall bring here and make known:
First you have to use a strong distilled water after the manner of the metal to be used. Hang
above such water, to the height of two fingers, some laminate iron. Close and don't touch the
water or stir it. Let stand for twenty-four hours in a warm sandbath. You will then find a nice
crocus on the iron which brushes off with a rabbit's foot. Continue this until no more crocus can
he brushed off, for then is the metal dead. Thereafter, pour over it good vinegar drawn off from
sal ammoniac, which vinegar will become sweet in taste after it has been standing for half an
hour. Filter and coagulate and you will have a beautiful good tasting salt, namely the sal martis.
Put this salt in a moist place and in a few hours it will dissolve into an oil. Take this oil and pour
over the previously dried crocum marti, which will drink it up like thirsty earth and continue
until no more will be absorbed by the salt. Gently dry it and let it revolve again in a cellar into an
oil.
Mercurium sublimatum imbibed in this oil, as much as it will take, will again dissolve in the
cellar into an oil. Coagulate and it will not separate again.
This powder brought upon Luna runs like grease into the Luna and exalts the mind of each artist,
because "the farmer has become a Lord."

Fire Degrees
The first degree of fire is the Balneum Mariae. This is the distillation made in water. The second
degree of fire is distillation made in ashes. The third is in sand the fourth in free fire, as also
distillation is generally made by aqua fortis and other violent waters. Herbs, flowers, seeds, and
the like, require the first degree of fire. Leaves, fruits, etc., need the second. Roots, branches and
trunks of trees, etc., require the third. Timber and the like require the fourth. Each of these
substances must be minutely cut up or pounded before being brought into the still.

The Procedure for Making the Oil of Iron

SINCE IT IS DIFFICULT, in fact almost impossible to obtain pure metallic Iron, it is preferable
to commence the procedure by using C.P. (Chemically Pure) Ferrous Sulphate Crystals (Fe So4
7H2O), the Vitriol Salts of this metal. (Use Baker's Analyzed C.P. Ferrous Sulphate obtainable
from any Chemical Reagent Supply House.) These Salts have already been purified by several
successive washings and recrystallization.
Using a Number 3 Porcelain Coors Crucible (glazed inside and outside) level full with the
Ferrous Sulphate Crystals (five) calcine the Salts in the electric muffle furnace. Place the
crucible containing the Salts in the cold furnace and then raise the temperature of the furnace to
1750 C. Continue the calcination until all fuming ceases and the iron is brought completely to a
state of oxidation. This usually takes about two hours. A good supply of air should have access
to the furnace. Remove the crucible and allow to cool to nearly room temperature. Transfer the
oxide sponge to a glass mortar and triturate with a glass pestle to a fine powder.
Weigh out 14 grams (approximately one half ounce avoirdupois) of the powdered iron oxide and
transfer to a Pyrex Beaker of about 800 ml. capacity and digest on the hot plate with 120 ml. of 6
normal Hydrochloric Acid until all the Iron oxide is in solution, adding more acid if necessary to
accomplish solution. Add 20 ml. of C.P. Nitric Acid (Specific Gravity 1.42) and boil for five
minutes to bring all the Iron to the Ferric State. (Note: It cannot be assumed that the Iron Oxide
product of the Calcination is in a uniform condition of oxidation.) Cool for a few minutes and
filter the solution through a fast filter paper into a Pyrex Beaker of 2,000 ml. capacity, washing
the filter paper with distilled water and allowing the washings to drain through this filter paper
into the Beaker containing the main portion of the filtrate. Discard the filter paper and any
residue remaining in it.
Make up the volume of the Solution in the Pyrex Beaker to 1,000 ml. Neutralize the Solution
with 6 normal Sodium Hydroxide Solution (to make: Add to 250 gm. of Na OH, purified by
alcohol, enough distilled water to make the volume 1,000 ml.) thus precipitative the Iron as
Ferric Hydroxide, then add a slight excess of the 6 normal Sodium Hydroxide Solution. The
solution containing the Iron should be stirred vigorously with a glass stirring rod during the
preceeding operation. Still stirring vigorously, add 6 normal Hydrochloric Acid cautiously, using
a dropper until the Solution is neutral or to the barest trace of acid reaction to litmus paper.
Make up the volume of the contents of the Pyrex Beaker to about 1,900 ml. with distilled water.
Stir well and then allow the Ferric Hydroxide precipitate to settle for about an hour. Decant the
clear Supernatant Solution. Again bring the volume of the contents of the Beaker to about 1,900
mi., stirring well as the distilled water is added, and allow to settle. Repeat this washing by
decantation three or four times. (See Note 1.)
Heat the Solution, containing the washed Ferric Hydroxide precipitate, after the last decantation
and without further addition of distilled water, to near boiling and filter through a hardened filter
paper (Whatman No. 52 or No. 54) using vacuum with a Buechner Vacuum Filter Funnel and a
Vacuum Filter Flask and finally washing any Ferric Hydroxide precipitate adhering to the wall of
the Beaker into the Buechner Filter Funnel by means of a fine stream of distilled water from the
wash bottle.
After the filtrate has been sucked through the Ferric Hydroxide cake into the Filter Flask, wash
the Ferric Hydroxide cake in the Buechner with three consecutive 100 ml. portions of hot
distilled water, taking great care to seal up with the end of a glass stirring rod all cracks which
may develop in the Ferric Hydroxide cake, as they appear.
Maintain the vacuum in the Filter Flask after the last washing until the Ferric Hydroxide cake is
free of excess water and is firm and solid. Remove the cake and filter paper by inserting the
blade of a small spatula between the cake and the porcelain wall of the Buechner and running it
around the periphery of the cake. Detach the Buechner Funnel from the Vacuum Filter Flask and
invert the Buechner over a porcelain dish of sufficient diameter to receive the cake and filter
paper and then jar these from the Buechner into the porcelain dish. Peal off and remove the
hardened filter paper (this may be washed and used again) from the cake. Remove carefully any
Ferric Hydroxide still adhering to the Buechner Funnel and add it to the main portion of the cake
in the porcelain dish. Discard the filtrate and wash waters from the vacuum filtration.
Place the porcelain dish, containing the Ferric Hydroxide cake in the drying oven and dry at 225
deg. F. for about three hours. At intervals, as the drying proceeds, break up the cake in the dish
with spatula or knife blade into smaller and smaller pieces until, finally, it has been chopped up
into small pieces about the size of a match head. This will ensure proper drying. When the
precipitate is finally quite dry, remove from the drying oven and allow to cool. Then transfer the
dried material to a glass mortar and triturate it to a fine powder with the glass pestle.
Transfer the fine powder to a Pyrex Beaker of 400 ml. capacity. Add sufficient fuming C.P.
Hydrochloric Acid (Specific gravity 1.18), to dissolve the powdered iron oxide (approximately
50 mi. should be sufficient).
Heat on the hot plate until all the solid material is in Solution. Pour the Hydrochloric Acid
Solution, containing the Iron as Ferric Chloride, into a glazed porcelain evaporating dish (deep
type) large enough to contain it and yet small enough to provide as small a surface area of the
Solution as possible in the course of the evaporation to follow. (Use a Coors Slayed porcelain
Dish 120 mm. Diameter. Height 50 mm.) No water may be used to wash any of the Ferric
Chloride Solution adhering to the Beaker into the porcelain evaporating dish. Merely drain the
contents of the Beaker into the dish. (See Note 4) Evaporate the acid Ferric Chloride Solution
slowly
NOTE 1
The decantation is most easily performed by using the water vacuum pump with a very slight
degree of suction and by keeping the end of the rubber suction tube just below the surface of the
clear supernatant solution. By watching the progress of the decantation through the wall of the
Beaker, any suction of the precipitate through the tube when the solution level is approaching the
top of the settled Ferric Hydroxide layer, may be avoided by raising the end of the suction tube
and thus discontinuing the operation. This method is much easier and more effective than
decantation by manipulation of the Beaker or "hand tilting."
NOTE 2 ETHER.
Use Ether Squibb (E R. Squibb & Sans, Nun York) for anesthesia in copper protected cans,
holding 1 lb, net weight of Ether. This may be bought at a very low price from any wholesale
Drug Company. I am sure it cannot be made on a small scale in the laboratory as cheaply as it
may be bought wholesale.
Before using, rectify the Ether in a glass vessel (well stoppered) over anhydrous Potassium
Carbonate, C.P. Ten or fifteen grams of Potassium Carbonate for each pound weight of Ether
being rectified is sufficient. Let stand for 48 hours, shaking occasionally. Re-distill just before
uaina.
NOTE 3. ETHYL ALCOHOL.
Use the U.S.P. 190 Proof Alcohol Distilled from Cane Producers by the Commercial
Solvents Corporation, Agency, California, if possible.
Redistill at 79" 80"C, to about 1/15th of original volume and rectify the distillate over
Anhydrous Potassium Carbonate, C.P. using about 2'J gm. per litre of alcohol. Let stand for 45
hours, shaking occasionally. Redistill at U40C before using.
NOTE 4 WATER.
All water used should be distilled water. It is absolutely essential that after the drying of the
Ferric Hydroxide precipitate, no slightest trace of water should be allowed to enter into the
procedure, and every precaution must be taken to prevent it so doing. Otherwise a proportion of
the gross body of the Iron commensurate with the quantity of water present and with its
solubility therein will be carried into the Ether Extract and will not be thrown down in the
subsequent procedures, for the reason that Ferric Chloride in solution with Hydrochloric Acid in
various degrees dilution with water, is soluble in Ether and subsequently in the alcohol added in
the course of the distillations. Thus it will be present in the end product which will not be the true
Oil of Iron.
On the sandbath, care being taken to see that the temperature of the sand bath is not sufficiently
high to cause burning or undue drying. Do not use the water bath or the steam bath for this
evaporation.
As the evaporation proceeds work down into the body of the thickening solution any Ferric
Chloride gel which may form and adhere to the evaporating dish around and above the solution
level. Use a robber policeman on a small stirring rod to accomplish this. The solution will finally
thicken to a gel, and the evaporation must not be carried out to the point at which the gel
commences to dry. The gel must remain moist with a slight excess of Hydrochloric Acid.
As soon as bulk of the acid has evaporated and the mass consists of a gel still moist with
Hydrochloric Acid, remove from the sand bath and, after thoroughly cooling the dish and
contents on cold water and then carefully drying the bottom of the dish with a cloth, making sure
that no trace of water is left around the lip of the dish nor has reached the interior of it, transfer
the Ferric Chloride Gel to a wide mouthed glass bottle of about 250 ml. capacity, and having a
ground glass stopper. Accomplish this by working the gel over the decanting lip of the dish with
the rubber policeman. Use no water. Pour a few ml. of ether (See Note 2.) into the dish after
making sure that no bare flame, nor electric element or sparking equipment is near, and work any
gel residue remaining in the dish out with the ether into the glass bottle by means of the rubber
policeman on the stirring rod. Ignore any dried rim of Ferric Chloride there may be in the
evaporating dish.
Add, at once, a 100 ml. portion of ether (have this ready at hand) to the Ferric Chloride gel in the
glass bottle and insert the glass stopper. (It is well to have the glass bottle standing in a dish of
cold water the level of which is not sufficiently high to tend to float the bottle). Shake the bottle
containing the gel and the ether vigorously for a few minutes, cooling the lower half of the bottle
frequently under the cold water faucet. Allow to stand a minute, then remove the stopper, first
being very careful to dry off thoroughly any drops of water on the bottle and especially around
the rim of the stopper orifice, and decant the now brown ethereal solution into an Erlenmeyer
Flask of 300 ml. capacity and stopper the Flask with a rubber stopper.
Add another fresh 100 ml. portion of ether to the contents of the glass shaking bottle and repeat
the ether extraction by shaking once more for a few minutes, cooling as before under the cold
water faucet. Dry the bottle and allow it to remain stoppered. Both the glass bottle and the
Erlenmeyer Flask containing the first portion of ether should be kept in a cool place until
required or, if this is not available, stand them in shallow running cold water keeping the
stoppers dry and protected from water.
Set up a distillation train consisting of a Pyrex distillation flask or retort of 300 ml. capacity, the
stopper neck of which is fitted with a bored rubber stopper through which is inserted a 3 inch
immersion mercury Thermometer reading O C. to 200 C., so that when the rubber stopper and
thermometer are placed in position in the distillation flask or retort the thermometer bulb clears
the bottom of the distillation flask or retort by three or four millimeters--a condenser, water
jacketed so that cold water may be passed continually through the jacket, filled to the delivery
arm of the distillation flask or retort on one end, and to a receiver of sufficient capacity (about
500 mi.) at the other end.
Having removed the Thermometer and stopper from the distillation flask or retort, arrange a 60
degree Pyrex Filter Funnel (having a diameter at the top of about 2 1/2 inches) in a ring support
or clamp of the retort stand and with the stem lowered into the distillation flask or retort so that
the stem is well below the level of the opening into the delivery arm of the flask or retort. Place a
fast filter paper in the funnel and fix in place by moistening with a little fresh Ether. Using first
the ether extract contained in the Erlenmeyer flask, filter this through the funnel into the
distillation flask or retort, washing out the Erlenmeyer Flask with 5 ml. of fresh Ether end
passing it through the filter paper in the funnel. Then replace the filter paper in the funnel with a
fresh filter paper and introduce into the funnel the Ether extract contained in the glass bottle
together with the gross body of the Iron, decanting and filtering first the bulk of the clear brown
Ether Solution and then, with the last remaining 20 ml. or so, swirling the gross body of the Iron
into suspension with the remaining Ether solution, decant the whole into the filter funnel. Allow
the ethereal solution to filter through into the distillation flask or retort, then wash out the glass
bottle with about 10 ml. of fresh Ether and pour this over the residual gross body of the iron in
the filter paper. Allow these washings to pass through into the distillation flask or retort, then
remove the filter funnel and discard the filter paper and contents.
Note 5. The portion of the Gross body thrown down in the course of the first two distillations.
This smell portion of the gross body of the Iron carried into the Ether Extract is due to the
presence at the end of the evaporation of the Hydrochloric Add Solution containing the Iron as
Ferric Chloride, of the slight but necessary excess of free Hydrochloric Acid, and the Ferric
Chloride held in solution by this excess of acid is extracted as such (Ferric Chloride) by the
Ether; the alchemystical Sulphur end Mercury of this portion of the Iron being unable to separate
from the gross body to form the coalition with Ether as the Ethereal Oil.
Upon distillation, first of the Ether extract and later upon the addition of alcohol, the Ether
Solvency factor with respect to this portion of Ferric Chloride is destroyed and coincidental
separation of the gross body of this retained portion from its five parts takes place, the gross
body constituent being thrown down out of solution and the alchemystical Sulphur and Mercury
constituents, forming their proper coalition, are retained in solution.
Moisten the rubber stopper fitted on the Thermometer, with a drop or two of absolute alcohol
(Ethyl) and insert the rubber stopper and Thermometer in the distillation flask or retort. (The
alcohol facilitates the proper placement of the rubber stopper). As a precaution arrange a Burette
clamp on the stand so that one claw of the clamp bears down, when the clamp arm is screwed in
position on the rod of the stand, on the top of the rubber stopper carrying the Thermometer, and
just to one side of the Thermometer.
Using a Precision: Electric Heater equipped with Rheostat, not a bare flame, and arranged so that
the bottom of the distillation flask or retort is about 2 1/2 inches from the heater element
gradually raise the temperature of the contents of the distillation flask or retort until the ether is
distilling at about 40 degrees C as shown, on the Thermometer Scale.
Continue the distillation until the volume of the contents of the flask or retort is about 125 ml.
Ignore for the time being any suspended solid matter or cloudiness which may have appeared in
the solution.
Until the first small portion, about 3 ml., of distillate appears in the Receiver, the Receiver
should be left loose at the neck where it fits on to the discharge end of the Condenser. When
about 3 ml. have distilled over, the temperature in the distillation flask or retort I have risen it
than 35 degrees C: The Receiver may then be fitted up tightly to the end of the condenser; but
until this is done and while the neck of the Receiver is loose, a wet strip of cloth should be
wound around the open joint to prevent the escape of any vapor. When the neck of the receiver is
closed up with the discharge end of the condenser this cloth may be dispensed with.
When the contents of the distillation flask or retort approximate 125 ml. in volume, turn off the
electric current to the Heater and by loosening the Heater clamp drop the Heater on the stand
away from the bottom of the distillation flask or retort and place a sand bath or some such
insulation over the element of the Heater to prevent the heat from rising.
Cool the bottom of the distillation flask or retort with a wet cloth. Remove the rubber stopper
carrying the Thermometer, and add to the contents of the flask or retort about 100 ml. of absolute
Ethyl alcohol (See Note 3.) Replace the stopper and Thermometer.
Raise the precision Electric Heater to its original position on the stand and continue the
distillation at 45 degrees C. to 50 degrees C until 40 ml. or 50 ml. have distilled over, and
observing the same precautions as before with respect to the Receiver Flask.
At this point any portion of the gross body of the iron which may have passed into solution in the
excess of Hydrochloric Acid present with the Ferric Chloride Gel when the Ether Extraction was
made, will have been thrown down out of solution (See Note 5), and the excess of Hydrochloric
Acid will have combined with the Ether in the first distillation and alcohol in the subsequent
distillation to pass over as Ethyl Oxychloride and Ethyl Chloride respectively
Again disconnect and drop the Electric Heater on the stand. Cool the distillation flask or retort as
before and remove from the train. (Note. Whenever the distillation train is to be broken at any
point, after heat has been applied to the distillation flask or retort, great care must be exercised
for the reason that if pressure within the apparatus has not attained equilibrium with the outside
pressure, violent restoration of equilibrium will take place if the difference in pressure is
excessive, and this may completely ruin the operation. Always break the train or remove the
rubber stopper from the distillation flask or retort only after sufficient cooling has taken place,
and then very carefully and by degrees, thus allowing gradual re-adjustment of pressure).
Decant, carefully, the contents of the distillation flask or retort into a Pyrex Beaker of 400 ml.
capacity. Wash out the distillation flask or retort thoroughly with a little absolute Ethyl Alcohol,
adding these washings to the main portion in the Beaker.
Replace the distillation flask or retort in position in the train, and, using the Pyrex Filter Funnel
fitted with a fast filter paper, filter the Solution contained in the Beaker back into the distillation
flask or retort, washing the filter paper and contents, after the main body of the solution has
passed through the filter, with 5 ml. of absolute Ethyl Alcohol, but first having washed out the
Beaker with a like portion of alcohol, and having passed these washings through the filter. When
the last washings of the filter paper and contents have passed through into the distillation flask,
remove the filter funnel and discard the filter paper and residual contents.
Replace the rubber stopper and Thermometer in the distillation flask or retort, raise the electric
heater, so that the heater element is, this time, about one inch from the bottom of the distillation
mask or retort. Raise the temperature of the contents of the flask or retort gradually (observing
the same precautions as before with respect to the Receiver Flask) until a temperature of about
85 degrees C is reached, and continue the distillation until the volume of the contents of the
distillation flask or retort is about 50 ml.
Disconnect the Electric Heater once more and drop its way from the bottom of the flask or retort.
Cover the element with a sand bath as before, to prevent the heat from rising. Cool the flask or
retort to about 40 degrees C. Remove the rubber stopper and Thermometer carefully to allow re-
adjustment of pressure. Add 75 ml. of absolute Ethyl Alcohol. Re-insert stopper and
Thermometer. Raise the Electric Heater into position, so that one inch separates the bottom of
the flask or retort and the heater element, and continue the distillation, observing the same
precautions as before, with respect to the Receiver Flask.
Allow the temperature of the contents of the distillation flask or retort to mount a little more
rapidly this time until a temperature of 90 degrees C is reached, and maintain this temperature
until the volume of the contents of the mask or retort is about 65 ml. Then allow the temperature
to mount gradually until there is a sudden, short and moderately violent ebullition of the solution
in the flask or retort. Allow the temperature to continue to mount until the contents of the flask or
retort appear wine red by transmitted light. The volume of the solution at this point should be
about 35 ml. The fluid in the flask or retort is now the true Oil of Iron, of which five, six or seven
drops in half a tumbler full of water may be taken two or three times a day before meals with
great advantage and without any fear of ill effects, for the general health and especially in cases
of anemia and other ailments as stated in Frater Archibald Cockran's great work entitled
"Alchemy Rediscovered and Restored." The writer wishes here to express his deep gratitude and
thanks to Frater Archibald Cockran for the very great amount of help he has received through his
study of this book.
Disconnect the Electric Heater and drop it away from the bottom of the distillation flask or retort.
Cool the flask or retort and remove it from the train observing the usual precautions with respect
to pressure re-adjustment. Decant the Oil of Iron into a dropper bottle made preferably of brown
glass.
If, at the conclusion of the decanting operation a thin red-brown film of sediment is found
adhering to the bottom of the flask or retort, pay no attention to it. It is not caused by the
presence of any of the gross body of the Iron. It is due to local overheating of the oil and is
caused by having been too high a heat on the electric heater element. This, however, should be
avoided. After decanting the Oil of Iron from the flask or retort, and washing the flask or retort
out with a little distilled water (not to be added to the Oil) without disturbing his film, and then,
upon the addition of a further portion of distilled water, about 25 ml., rubbing off the film with a
rubber policeman and agitating it with the water, it will be found that it dissolves in the water to
form a bright red solution. Warming the solution helps to accomplish this.
NOTE: Those who have followed the above instructions in their laboratories are asked to submit
the result of their experiments in writing and possibly a small amount of the substance obtained
for examination.