Specimen repair etc.

[Kenelm Philip]

I had not mentioned using PDB/chlorochresol in the relaxer to suppress
mold, but Robert Chehey is indeed correct in pointing that out. One of
the reasons I maximize the surface area of the water in the relaxer and
always have a single layer of specimens is to reduce the time that mold
spores have to grow in the specimens by speeding up the relaxing
process. Even with PDB in the relaxer, specimens left in too long may
mold. Also, white and yellow butterflies are prone to developing green
spots if left too long.

This is a bit esoteric--but one of my most useful tools for spreading
is an old-style dentist's lamp mounted at the left side of my work table.
About 20 to 30 years ago, dentists were throwing these out as they
converted to more modern lamps. The lamp, at a distance of 3 feet, illum-
inates one-half of an 18" spreading board with a brilliant white light
while keeping the heat away from one's head. The same lamp serves as an
illuminator for my dissecting scope (which is on a pivoting arm so it
can be placed over the spreading board for micros).

							Ken Philip
fnkwp at aurora.alaska.edu