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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">The glassware appears to be quite clear, which suggests that if it is as old as it appears to be, the glass may have been formulated with either uranium or
arsenic. Glass of this type can become very fragile as it ages and could break easily with any handling.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">You may want to consult with your safety office on an appropriate protocol for opening these. We have done this, but it did involve siting the glass in absorbent
medium inside a heavy plastic pail, transferring to a hood, then slowly opening by the application of towels warmed in hot water to the base of the jar, with applications of light mineral oil around the lid, using a syringe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Takes a bit of patience, but works.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Cathy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">_______________________________<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Catharine Hawks<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Museum Conservator<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">National Museum of Natural History<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">NHB 394 MRC 106<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Smithsonian Institution
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">PO Box 37012<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Washington, DC 20013-7012<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Office 202.633.0835<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Conservation 202.633.4041<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Cell (work) 202.701.8458<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Cell (pers) 703.200.4370<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Nancy Glover McCartney<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 20, 2015 2:55 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] old glass containers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">I have several old glass containers housing fish, herps, inverts, etc. that are getting very low on fluid. I expect the containers are pretty brittle, as a gar with a giant lobster broke with almost
no provocation and spewed formalin all over: not a process I want to repeat. I don't have any idea what these specimens are stored in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">I have attached a few pix of fish and the screw down tops that appear to have parafilm or an ancient rubber around the lid; some of the smaller containers have what may be beeswax holding in a
stopper.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Should I attempt to open and replace fluid? If so, how? What precautions?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">An earlier query 10 years or so ago said just to leave them alone, but maybe there is different advice now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">I'd appreciate some doable suggestion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">My thanks in advance, as always.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Nancy Glover McCartney, PhD<br>
Curator of Zoology<br>
UA Collections Facility<br>
120 BIOMASS<br>
University of Arkansas<br>
2435 Hatch<br>
Fayetteville AR 72701<br>
<br>
Phone: 479-575-4370<br>
Fax: 479-575-7464<br>
<br>
<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__museum.uark.edu_index.php&d=AwMFAw&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=x9k-TlzFJTAsCvPqLBttnPE62-CZDhXIe_QpULlzVAY&s=rMQz_Pq_fBnJQlAvHjK9usJ_CkBwU0Svrpt8DG40zRo&e=">http://museum.uark.edu/index.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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