Sometimes I feel like my whole BRAIN has been bleached--
Actually, we do have a good ventilation system (grills located in the walls at
the bench that allows fumes to be pulled away from the tech)
and of course we cap the container while the block soaks.
It could be that  I'm just immune to most of the Histology odors after working
for years with little or NO ventilatiion.  Some of the older techs probably
feel
they are "well preserved" because of the earlier working conditions.  (I know,
that line is probably older than--me)
jerry

P. Emry wrote:

> Hi Jerry,
> I use am. hydroxide to bleach skulls..under the hood.  How do your sinuses
> hold up using it at almost nose level?  Is there a trick to this?
> Thanks,
> Trisha
> U of WA, Seattle
>
> On Wed, 21 Oct 1998, Jerry Wilson wrote:
>
> > Trisha, this is fairly common procedure in out lab.  we keep a small
> > container of  "roughly 5-10%" solution of am. hydroxide available at the
> > microtomes for sectioning of hard, dense, cartilaginous blocks.  after
> > facing the blocks (and ruining a couple of knives) we place the block in
> > the solution for a couple of minutes and try again.  "usually" we have good
> > results with the first few sections.  It's worth a try--let me know it it
> > works for you
> > jerry
> >
> > P. Emry wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Rebecca,
> > >
> > > I have not heard of the am. hydroxide method.  What does this do the the
> > > bone part of the specimen?  How long do you leave it in it?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Trisha
> > > U of Washington
> > >