On Thu, 15 Jul 1999, Barry, Lilith wrote:

> If you have any suggestions no matter how simple they might seem to
> you, I am all ears (eyes in this case).
> 
  Your boss _should_ know all the answers to your questions
  about how to handle these specimens. If he/she doesn't, then
  he/she shouldn't be asking _you_ to carry the can when it's
  obvious (from your questions) that you have had no education, 
  experience or training in the field of histotechnology.

  You did well to find the HistoNet listserver, but your questions
  indicate that you need at least one textbook, at least a year
  to study it, and also some contact with other people who cut and
  stain sections for a living. 

  Get your boss to send you for some training.  Meanwhile, your
  formalin-fixed lumps of brain are probably OK to stay in their
  neutral buffered formaldehyde solution for several years. The
  microscopic anatomy keeps well.

 John A. Kiernan (a neuroanatomist),
 Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology,
 The University of Western Ontario,
 LONDON,  Canada  N6A 5C1