<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Hello all,</div><div>Is it possible to make a dry skeletal specimen from material that has been fixed in formalin? </div><div><br></div><div>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.</div><div><br></div><div>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. </div><div><br></div><div>Thanks for any thoughts and advice.</div><div><br></div>Meredith<div><br><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div><div>Meredith J. Mahoney, Ph.D.</div><div>Assistant Curator of Zoology</div><div><br></div><div><a href="mailto:mjmahoney@museum.state.il.us">mjmahoney@museum.state.il.us</a></div><div><br></div><div>Illinois State Museum </div><div><a href="http://www.museum.state.il.us">www.museum.state.il.us</a></div><div><br></div><div>Zoology Section on Facebook</div><div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ISMZoology">www.facebook.com/ISMZoology</a></div><div><br></div><div>Research and Collections Center</div><div>1011 E. Ash St</div><div>Springfield, IL 62703</div><div>ph. 217-785-4843</div><div>fax 217-785-2857</div></div></span>
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