STAINING, PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL 



Technique: 



1. Specimens of skin are fixed in io% formalin and embedded 

 either in paraffin wax or in Celloidin. 



2. Bring sections down to distilled water; then stain for ten 

 minutes in a mixture consisting of: 



Solution A . . . . . . ID ml. 



Solution B . . . . • • 3 ml- 



Solution C . . . . • • 3 ml. 



3. Wash well in distilled water. 



4. Stain for ten minutes in the safranin solution. 



5. Wash thoroughly in distilled water. 



6. Immerse in 0-5% potassium dichromate solution from ten 

 to thirty minutes. 



7. Wash in distilled water; dehydrate in absolute alcohol ; then 

 clear in oil of bergamot. 



8. Examine under the microscope; then if necessary differ- 

 entiate alternatively with absolute alcohol and oil of bergamot 

 until the depth of the safranin stain has been reduced. 



9. Mount in balsam or in Cristalite or D.P.X. 



Results: 



Epithehal fibres are stained red, while the nuclei are pale violet ; 

 plasmasomes, red; cytoplasm, blue to violet; granules of the 

 neutrophil leucocytes, sky blue; elastic fibres, red; collagen fibres, 

 blue. 



References : 



Carleton, H. M. & Leach, E. H. (1947), p. 285. 

 Unna, P. G. (1910a). 



WEIGERT - FRENCH ELASTIN STAIN 

 (Moore's modification) 



Preparation of the dry stain: 



A. Ferric chloride, anhydrous, A.R. 



grade . . . . . . • • 30 gm. 



Distilled water . . . . • • 65 ml. 



Dissolve; then make up the vol- 

 ume to 100 ml. with distilled water. 



Note: This solution must be freshly prepared. 

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