[Nhcoll-l] [External] Re: [EXTERN] Transferring a worm to new fixative

[John E Simmons]

Interesting idea. Picric acid usually colors the alcohol bright yellow, but
I have seen some old containers of specimens in Bouin's Solution that were
more orange than yellow. I had not thought of that... Does anyone know of a
test for picric acid?

John E. Simmons
US Fulbright Senior Scholar
Writer and Museum Consultant, Museologica
*and*
Research Associate, Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery, Penn
State University
*and*
Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitología, Museo de Historia
Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima


On Wed, Mar 25, 2026 at 1:32 PM Opitz, Cindy E <cindy-opitz at uiowa.edu>
wrote:

> Given the acrid smell, could it be a picric acid solution? Is there a test
> for that?
>
>
>
> *Cindy Opitz*
> Director of Research Collections
>
> Museum of Natural History and Old Capitol Museum
>
> Instructor, Museum Studies Certificate Program
>
> The University of Iowa
> 11 Macbride Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
> Office: 319.335.0481
>
> cindy-opitz at uiowa.edu
> *mnh.uiowa.edu, <https://mnh.uiowa.edu/> oldcap.uiowa.edu
> <https://oldcap.uiowa.edu/> *
>
> [image: The University of Iowa Logo]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> *On Behalf Of *John
> E Simmons
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 25, 2026 12:13 PM
> *To:* Dirk Neumann <d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de>
> *Cc:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* [External] Re: [Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Transferring a worm to new
> fixative
>
>
>
> Try using the salting out method to see if it tests positive for
> isopropyl, ethanol, or formaldehyde
>
>
>
> Finkelde, I., and R.R. Waller. 2020. Salting out: A simple and reliable
> method to distinguish between common fluid preservatives and estimate
> alcohol concentration. Collection Forum 34(1): 11-31.
>
>
> John E. Simmons
>
> US Fulbright Senior Scholar
> Writer and Museum Consultant, Museologica
> *and*
> Research Associate, Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery, Penn
> State University
>
> *and*
>
> Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitología, Museo de Historia
> Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 25, 2026 at 1:07 PM Dirk Neumann <d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de>
> wrote:
>
> Hi Nate,
>
>
>
> 'skin started peeling' sounds odd and might point to density differences.
> Can you tell if this is a water-based or alcohol-based preservative?
>
>
>
> Could also be an oil-based preservative with very high density. But guess
> it is worth figuring out in what the specimen sits before starting to move
> it into something else, if there is such a strong reaction like peeling
> skin.
>
>
>
> Not much, but perhaps a useful thought.
>
>
>
> With best wishes
>
> Dirk
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Am 25.03.2026 um 17:57 schrieb Shoobs, Nate:
>
> Hey all,
>
> We have a display specimen of a Giant Australian earth worm (
> *Megalascides*) with no data in our collection. It's in nice condition,
> but the fluid it's preserved in is quite dark orange (presumeably colors
> leeched from the animal) and thus it makes the specimen hard to see and
> appreciate.
>
>
>
> I want to transfer it to fresh fluid so it's easier to examine, but I
> can't figure out what it's preserved in. I initially thought it was in 10%
> formalin, but test-dipping a portion of the animal in a fresh jar of 10%
> formalin caused a pretty immediate visible reaction (skin started peeling).
> The preservative is definitely not ethanol. It has an acrid odor like
> formalin. I don't have Schiff's reagent on hand. The specimen was acquired
> in the mid 60s early 70s, so I think it rules out many of the more obscure
> Victorian fixatives.
>
>
>
> Any suggestions on a protocol to safely transfer it to a fixative that is
> less opaque (fresh formalin or ethanol)? The primary purpose of the
> transfer is for display and teaching, as the specimen is uncatalogued and
> has no data other than the ID, so the only thing that matters in this case
> is making sure it's not ruined aesthetically. (And of course, making sure I
> can figure out what the old preservative is to safely dispose of it).
>
>
>
> -Nate
>
> -
> *Nathaniel F. Shoobs, *Curator of Mollusks
>
> College of Arts & Sciences Dept. of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal
> Biology, The Ohio State University
> Museum of Biological Diversity
>
> 1315 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, OH 43212
> 614-688-1342 (Office)
> mbd.osu.edu
>
>
>
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> --
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> ******
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>
>
> *Dirk Neumann*
>
> Collection Manager, Hamburg
>
>
>
> Postal address:
>
> *Museum of Nature Hamburg*
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>
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>
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> Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
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