23G ON THE PREPARATION OF KERMES MINERAL. 
carefully and heat gradually, until the calcined matter enters 
into complete fusion, and ceases to disengage gas. It is then 
poured out to cool on a stone, and is preserved for use. 
The cold product is solid, without odour, of a greyish white, 
and very deliquescent. 
Divide the antimony in splintery fragments without pul- 
verizing, put it in an iron boiler, throw the water on it, and 
add 4.4 lbs. of carbonate of potash and one-fourth part of the 
first preparation, carry the heat to ebullition and continue 
it during three quarters of an hour or an hour, and then 
diminish the fire. Filter the liquid through cloths covered 
with unsized paper, and receive the filtered liquid in an 
earthern vessel previously heated. The whole filtered pro- 
duct is thrown into two large cylindrical earthen pots, also 
heated, carefully covered, and left till the next day. 
"This operation terminated, the boiler is replenished with 
water, 4.4 lbs. of carbonate of potash, and a second-fourth of 
the first preparation added. The boiling is then continued 
for an hour, filtered, and, in fact, the same process as before 
noticed gone through with, and the liquor placed in two 
other cylindrical pots. 
" The operation is repeated twice more until all the first 
preparation is consumed, when there will be eight pots. 
" The next day after, the liquid is decanted from the two 
first pots into the boiler, which is then filled with water, 
and without further addition, is boiled an hour, filtered and 
placed in the pots from wiiich it was taken, the first deposit 
having been previously removed to a proper vessel. 
*' The other pots arejdecanted successively, and the series 
of operations kept up for a month, observing to add ifcij. 
Second Operation. 
Sulphuret of antimony in fragments, 
Pure carbonate of potassa, 
River water, 
33.08 lbs. 
17.61 lbs. 
13.0 galls. 
