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

[John E Simmons]

Do not use enzyme-based detergents for skeletal prep.  The enzymes will
cause permanent, irreversible damage to the bone.  This has been
well-documented:
Shelton, S.Y., and J.S.Buckley.  1990.  Observations on enzyme preparation
effects on skeletal material.  Collection Forum 6(2):76-81

--John



On Tue, Jun 18, 2013 at 1:01 PM, Watkins-Colwell, Gregory <
gregory.watkins-colwell at yale.edu> wrote:

>  Meredith,****
>
>
> it is possible, but it takes a lot of time and effort.  ETOH only (i.e. no
> formalin) works much better.  Dermestids will even eat those, but slowly.
> We even had a cage of dermestids here once upon a time that seemed to
> prefer specimens with a little ethanol sprinkled on top.****
>
> ** **
>
> I’ve had some luck with formalin-fixed specimens if I soak the skinned
> specimen in beef broth for a few days and then dry it to go in with the
> dermestids.  But even then I ended up mostly removing the soft tissue
> manually.****
>
> ** **
>
> I think with the material you have I’d do several soaks in water before
> broth.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> On the other hand, maybe you can do this manually without dermestids at
> all.  Has anybody ever used enzyme detergent on formalin-fixed specimens?*
> ***
>
> ** **
>
> Greg****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> --------------------------------------****
>
> Gregory J. Watkins-Colwell****
>
> Collection Manager, Herpetology and Ichthyology****
>
> Division of Vertebrate Zoology****
>
> Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History****
>
> 170 Whitney Avenue, Box 208118****
>
> New Haven, CT  06520****
>
> 203/432-3791  or    fax: 203/432-9277****
>
> -----------------------------------****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:
> nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] *On Behalf Of *Meredith Mahoney
> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 18, 2013 11:35 AM
> *To:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* [Nhcoll-l] dry skeleton from formalin-fixed material?****
>
> ** **
>
> 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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>


-- 
John E. Simmons
Museologica
128 E. Burnside Street
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823-2010
simmons.johne at gmail.com
303-681-5708
www.museologica.com
and
Adjunct Curator of Collections
Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery
Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
and
Lecturer in Art
Juniata College
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
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