Hi,
    Crude oil is rather viscous isn't it? Come to think of it so is agar. I
think viscosity is probably good for the growth of bacteria.
    The problem folks are referring to is probably the lack of
standardization of its production, usage and storage. I wouldn't be
surprised if someone somewhere had contaminated gelatin, Stay On, or Halt.
The difference here is that these products are manufactured with this use in
mind. So the Manufacturer has to back up its product. The Elmers producers
only have to prove the product causes household items to stick together and
that the product is non-toxic.
    If a lab uses this glue they take it upon themselves to make sure that
it works for their purposes and does not interfere with what they are doing.
If they can do this great! Have fun! I still like my silanized slides, but
as long as another product works for someone else, without causing other
problems, I can't complain.
Amos Brooks

----- Original Message -----
From: "jpark" <jpark100@hotmail.com>
To: <HistoNet@pathology.swmed.edu>
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2001 9:00 PM
Subject: Re: Elmer's glue


> Regarding Elmer's glue, the presence of bacteria is disturbing.
>
> Bacteria grow in hot springs, in cold temperature (in refrigerator of 4C)
> and also on crude oil in Ocean.
> But it is new to me that bacteria grow in a highly viscous environment,
like
> in Elmer's glue.  As you know, Elmer's glue is extremely viscous with very
> little water which is a necessity for any life.  To me, it does not make
any
> sense that any life can grow in the glue.
>
> I am wondering whether finding of bacteria in Elmer's glue is nothing but
a
> joke.
>
> james