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

[Simon Moore]

Yes the beef broth seems a good marinade if using dermestids and I have found that some alcohol does stimulate their appetites.

With all good wishes, Simon. 

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian,
www.natural-history-conservation.com 

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Watkins-Colwell, Gregory 
  To: Meredith Mahoney ; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu 
  Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 6:01 PM
  Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] dry skeleton from formalin-fixed material?


  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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