Dear Mike,
  I do many horse hoof specimens and have found a few tricks that might help.  I do not place the slides in a drying oven before deparaffinization, because the heat will make them curl.  I use Pro-Par or other aliphatic hydrocarbon xylene substitute for deparaffinization and clearing.  Cedarwood oil and or terpineol also work well.  Xylene will make them curl.  I also use celloidin to coat the sections.  Be very gentle with the sections during staining and washing steps.  I also use Ultra-Stick slides for all the hoof sections.  Hope this helps.  


Sarah Christo, HT (ASCP)
Research Associate, Histology Lab
Texas A&M University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Dept. of Vet Anatomy & Public Health
College Station, TX  77843-4458
phone: (979) 845-3177
fax:  (979) 458-3499

>>> Michael Rice <MRICE@nbhd.org> 01/03/01 11:50AM >>>
In an effort to solve one of the great mysteries of the universe,  does anyone including all of you hoof experts have a way to keep  nail clippings on a slide. We have tried all the methods that our collective brains and experience can come up with including soap soaking, overnite drying, charged slides, etc. So far we have varied success with them. as I am sure you all know, this is very important medicine, all your suggestuions would be welcomed. This should be interesting.
Mike
Broward General Medical Center
Ft Lauderdale