[Nhcoll-l] dry skeleton from formalin-fixed material?

[Meredith Mahoney]

Hello all,
Is it possible to make a dry skeletal specimen from material that has been fixed in formalin? 

A research associate here is receiving some shoulder joints that were dissected out of mammal carcasses. He wants to prepare them as dry skeletons for his research, however the sender preserved the material in formalin before sending (apparently following standard veterinary practice). They may have been in the formalin for a few weeks or a couple months at most.

Is it possible to safely prepare these as dry skeletal specimens or is the best option to clean any flesh away but preserve the joints in ethanol? I am concerned that residual formalin will remain in the bones even if they are soaked extensively in water prior to maceration and drying. 

Thanks for any thoughts and advice.

Meredith

Meredith J. Mahoney, Ph.D.
Assistant Curator of Zoology

mjmahoney at museum.state.il.us

Illinois State Museum 
www.museum.state.il.us

Zoology Section on Facebook
www.facebook.com/ISMZoology

Research and Collections Center
1011 E. Ash St
Springfield, IL 62703
ph.  217-785-4843
fax  217-785-2857

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