Improvements in and relating to medical, zoological and botanical specimens

摘要

Medical and natural history specimens are preserved by treating with an aqueous solution of sodium chloride, a bichromate, for instance calcium bichromate, and iodine, then with a fixing solution followed by dehydration with a hygroscopic liquid such as alcohol, or a mixture of alcohol and hydrogen peroxide or sulphurous acid, treatment with a solvent for paraffin wax or other consistent waxy material and then with the waxy material. For fixing there may be employed a mixture of formaldehyde and water, alcohol and formaldehyde, formaldehyde, trichlorethylene and alcohol, or alcohol and another volatile organic liquid, e.g. trichlorethylene. Transparent paraffin wax melting at between 40-70 DEG C. is preferably used and may be mixed with Chian or a similar turpentine. After dehydration, the specimen is preferably subjected to further treatment with pure alcohol and then with trichlorethylene or benzol and finally with the molten wax. The surplus wax is removed and the specimen allowed to cool. Vacuum may be employed for treating the specimen prior to or during the treatments.