MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STAINING TECHNIQUES 



Dissolve the stain by boiling for two minutes in a 

 flask, plugged lightly with cotton-wool, on a water 

 bath. Allow to cool; then filter; make the volume 

 up to 100 ml. with absolute alcohol; then add the 

 acid. Alternatively the solution may be prepared as 

 described on p. 96. 



Note: This solution deteriorates after three or 

 four weeks. 



B. Ehrlich haematoxylin. 



C. Ponceau-acid fuchsin (Masson): 



Acid fuchsin . . . . . . 0-3 gm. 



Ponceau de xylidine . . . . 0-7 gm. 



Distilled water . . . . . . 100 ml. 



Glacial acetic acid . . . . i ml. 



D. Phosphotungstic acid 3% aqueous. 



E. Light Green 1% aqueous. 



Technique: 



1. Paraffin sections are mounted on slides and brought down to 

 distilled water in the usual manner ; then immersed in Weigert's 

 elastin stain in a staining jar for one hour. 



2. Wash rapidly in acid alcohol; then dehydrate and differ- 

 entiate in absolute alcohol until the sections appear only faintly 

 red. 



3. Immerse in 70% alcohol, followed by distilled water. 



4. Stain in Ehrlich haematoxylin for eight to ten minutes ; then 

 differentiate in water for five minutes. 



5. Stain in Ponceau-acid fuchsin for five minutes. 



6. Wash thoroughly in 3% phosphotungstic acid ; then immerse 

 in the phosphotungstic acid for ten minutes. 



7. Wash thoroughly in distilled water; then stain with Light 

 Green for two to five minutes; then without washing: 



8. Flood the preparation with 1% acetic acid and allow it to act 

 for three minutes ; pour off excess ; then without washing : 



9. Dehydrate; clear; mount in Damar xylol. 



q8 



