Tissue from Egyptian mummy material is extremely brittle; hence it was handled in perforated glass tubes during processing. The first (softening) fluid consisted of 96% ethyl alcohol, 30 vol; 1% aqueous formalin, 50 vol; 5% aqueous Na2CO3, 20 vol. It was used in a fluid to tissue volume ratio of 100:1 and allowed to act overnight. A special dehydrating sequence: 80% alcohol, 3-6 hr; 8% phenol in 96% alcohol, and absolute alcohol followed by 3 changes of amyl acetate, 6-18 hr each; 3 changes of 1 % celloidin in methyl benzoate, 24 hr each; then through benzene and embedding in paraffin completed the special technic. This allowed regular sectioning and staining to be done successfully.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Ann Sandison (1955) studied this question.