Thank you Karen. How about if the sample is already in paraffin? George
said he'd give me another one and I'm tempted to try JB4.
I do appreciate everybody's help.
Mary Lou



At 15:09 2000-06-06 +0100, you wrote:
>Mary Lou,
>
>I was off-line when you originally posted your question, so I don't 
>know what's been suggested.  However, several months ago someone 
>recommended softening nails and hooves with 5% trichloroacetic acid 
>(TCA).  I have been incubating my fish in a solution of 5% TCA in my 
>fixative overnight on a rotor, rinsing thoroughly in 70% ethanol 
>before loading them into the processor.  It works great for softening 
>the skin/scales.  In contrast, Nair didn't work very well for me. I 
>will try to hunt up those original posts from my personal archives 
>and email them to you.
>
>Good luck.
>
>Karen in Oregon
>
>
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>
>>Hi Carol,
>>I wasn't told the head I'm working on was part of any survey. I believe
>>it's just personal data. I honestly didn't know of a survey. Dr. Kollias
>>said he was interested in step sections of the nares and I'm not having a
>>very good time sectioning the beak. I must in the lab where Nair doesn't
>>want to work.
>>I asked my favorite rehabilitator and she said the Lab of Ornithology is
>>conducting the survey. They're in the woods, way off campus.
>>Have a great day!
>>Mary Lou
>>
>>
>>At 09:08 2000-06-06 -0400, you wrote:
>>>Hi Mary Lou:
>>>
>>>I'm sorry I don't have an answer for your question, but I wanted to ask you
>>>one.  I see from your address that you are at Cornell.  Are you working
with
>>>the house finch disease survey?  I ask because I am a Feeder Watcher and
>>>have turned in some house finch disease data (all negative).
Professionally
>>>I work with diseases of aquatic organisms, so histology on any kind of
>>>wildlife intrigues me.
>>>
>>>Regards -
>>>Carol
>>>*****************
>>>Carol B. McCollough, HT(ASCP)
>>>Diagnostics & Histology Laboratory Manager
>>>Maryland Department of Natural Resources
>>>Fisheries Service
>>>Cooperative Oxford Laboratory
>>>904 S. Morris Street
>>>Oxford, MD 21654
>>>
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Mary Lou Norman [mailto:mlm11@cornell.edu]
>>>Sent: Monday, April 24, 2000 10:48 AM
>>>To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
>>>Subject: archives and bird beaks
>>>
>>>
>>>Dear Histonetters,
>>>
>>>I haven't been able to open up the archives (are they down or is it my
>>>computer?) so here's my question: What would soften bird beak enough for
>>>sectioning?   I need to step-section through a mature house finch head. 
>>>
>>>Thanks for your help.
>>>Mary Lou
>>>
>
>