Hi Carol,
	For some reason I've received four of these messages, so I
thought I'd reply in order to make up a hand ( or foot )'s worth :¬)
We fortunately don't have to deal with these types of specimens too
often, but when we do we soak them overnight in a tissue softening fluid
( we use Mollifex from BDH ) prior to processing. Obviously you have to
ensure they're well fixed first. It makes them easier to cut but we
still have trouble keeping them on the slide. We've had reasonable
success using 'charged' slides or slides coated with Vectabond.
	Hope this is of some help
		Alex Brown
		Crosshouse Hospital
		Kilmarnock, Scotland.
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From: BCPCOMMUN@aol.com
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: processing of finger and toe nails
Date: 31 October 1998 14:12

The dermatopathology lab in which I work is having difficulty
adequately
softening (using decal or home permanent solution) and successful
adherence of
sections on the slide for routine staining and special stains (using
gelatin
and coated slides).

I will appreciate any information that will be of help in this area.

Please respond to: Carol Panken at bcpcommun@aol.com