[NHCOLL-L:5958] Re: Solvent to reverse archival microslide mountants

[Martin Spies]

I have had very good results dissolving Canada Balsam mounts of Diptera 
Chironomidae by soaking in 100% Isopropanol. The latter is not 
technically hazard-free, but less so than xylene, and decidedly less 
pits to work with. The specimens I work with are (parts of) rather small 
insects; thus, I can't tell how (fast) the method would work on larger 
masses of Balsam

Best of luck,

-- 
Martin Spies
Zoologische Staatssammlung Muenchen
Germany