CHAPTER VI 



THE PARAFFIN METHOD: STAINING AND MOUNTING 

 I. STAINING WITH HEMATOXYLIN 



Place enough of the following reagents in tall stender dishes 

 or Coplin staining-jars to cover the slides lengthwise, up beyond 

 the sections affixed to them: xylol, carbol-xylol, absolute, 95, 70, 

 50, 35 per cent, alcohols respectively, clear water, acid alcohol, 

 and for washing out the acid alcohol in the case of hematoxylin 

 preparations, a separate jar of 70 per cent, alcohol to which a 

 few drops of a 0.1 per cent, aqueous solution of bicarbonate of 

 soda has been added. Arrange these reagents in a row in the 

 order named with the exception of the acid alcohol and its accom- 

 panying alkaline alcohol wash of 70 per cent, alcohol, which may 

 be placed immediately back of the ordinary 70 per cent, alcohol. 

 Put a little vaselin along the upper edges of the jars containing 

 absolute alcohol, xylol, and carbol-xylol and press the cover down 

 tightly to prevent evaporation or the entrance of moisture. 



In like manner place in Coplin staining-jars (tall stenders will 

 answer) a supply of Delafield's hematoxylin diluted one-half with 

 distilled water, eosin, Lyons blue, borax-carmine, Bordeaux red, and 

 solutions A and B for the iron-hematoxylin method. Arrange 

 these stains in a row back of the alcohol series. 



1. Remove the paraffin from the sections of intestine (see last 

 lesson) by placing the slides in xylol (turpentine will answer) 

 for 10 or 15 minutes. The process may be hastened by first 

 gently warming the slide until the paraffin begins to melt. 



2. Remove the xylol from the sections by transferring the 

 slides to absolute alcohol for 1 minute. 



3. Pass the slides through the alcohols (95, 70, 50, and 35 

 per cent. ) leaving them for a half-minute in each. 



4. Remove to Delafield's hematoxylin for 10 to 30 minutes or 

 until stained a pronounced blue. 



5. Wash in water for 5 minutes. 



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