FYI.....He's pissing me off, guess I will go take an additional Beta Blocker
*grin*

Don Hammer, Retired Guy
----- Original Message -----
From: Don Hammer <donh7@earthlink.net>
To: <RSRICHMOND@aol.com>; histonet <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
Sent: Friday, December 17, 1999 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: Extraction system


> Hi Bob,
>
> Your response below prompts my response.  I'm sure you know you are
revered
> for your wit and historical knowledge, whether it comes from within your
> brain, textbooks or some other informational media, by many on Histonet,
> including me.
>
> I have to say, that my respect for you has been lowered by your comments
> below as well as your earlier discussion of the use of the Genta stain.
You
> are one of very few Pathologists on the Histonet and what you say may be
> given more credence than it deserves because there are not many other
> Pathologists on here to give a different point of view.  It could end up
to
> be taken as gospel due to a one sided opinion.
>
> Altho I do feel that society and regulatory bodies may have gone a bit
> overboard on CYA (covering your ass) regarding hazards, much of what has
> been learned probably has some value.  Many of us Histotechs lived thru
the
> fume ridden, one or two lightbulb labs and either are still kickin' or
lived
> a full life.  Perhaps the younger Etches will live longer and have a
better
> quality of life when they retire.  I don't feel the pre 1960's, 70's
> approach to fumes in the grossing area that you describe is what
employee's
> need to deal with.
>
> Regarding the use of the Genta stain, you said in earlier mail that there
> are no publications touting the use of the stain.  (or words along those
> lines)  They do exist and as mentioned above, if there were other
> Pathologists on the Histonet, we might still be discussing the subject.
> Instead it died and there may have been many who have accepted your view
as
> golden.  The saving factor here is that the Histotech would have to
convince
> their Pathologist to drop it and not change the method used on their own.
> Today your mail concerning a "speed phrase" stating in the report that the
> Diff-Quik is negative makes me wonder if there are so many negatives due
to
> the method used to make your diagnosis.
>
> Don Hammer, Retired Guy
> >
> > > Mike Kirby in Johannesburg asks:
> > >
> > > >>Does anyone have any plans or can make recommendations with regards
to
> a
> > >
> > > suitable formalin fume extraction system for our "gross sectioning
> bench"? I
> > >
> > > am sure that there are commercial systems available, but they would be
> > >
> > > extremely expensive in this neck of the woods, so what we are looking
> for is
> > >
> > > a "in house" D.I.Y system.<<
> > >
> > > Real men choke on the fumes while they gross! Fume extraction systems?
> We
> > > don't have no sissy fume extraction systems!
> > >
> > > The answer to this question depends very much on your local regulatory
> > > agencies. In the USA we have federal regulations concerning
formaldehyde
> > > fumes, but many states - including the states I practice in - do not
> enforce
> > > them.
> > >
> > > Most of the small rural hospitals and "little histology labs on the
> prairie
> > > [or is that veldt?]" that I practice in have nothing at all, or
nothing
> but a
> > > fan so noisy you can't dictate with it running.
> > >
> > > In such a circumstance, your best strategy is careful handling of
> > > formaldehyde so as to expose as little of it as possible. And an
> electric fan
> > > purchased at your nearest department store.
> > >
> > > Bob Richmond
> > > Samurai Pathologist
> > > (still surviving the fumes at age sixty)
> > > Knoxville, Tennessee USA
> >
> >
> >
>