158 

 CARMINE STAINS. 



Carmine has for many years held a prominent place 

 among the stains used for coloring tissue. It is especially 

 useful for staining them in bulk. 



Grenadier's Borax Carmine Solution. 



Carmine (No. 40). . . . .. .3 grms. 



Borax 4 grms. 



Distilled water . 100 c. c. 



Alcohol (70%) ' . 100 c.c. 



The carmine and borax are dissolved in warm distilled 

 water, allowed to cool, after which the alcohol is added ; at 

 the end of 48 hours, the solution is filtered; the filtrate 

 must stand for several weeks before using. Tissues hard- 

 ened in alcohol or bichloride of mercury are stained well 

 after this method. The pieces remain in the stains from 

 24 to 48 hours, are then washed in an acid alcohol wash (6 

 to 8 drops of HC1 to 100 c. c. of 70% alcohol) from 6 to 

 24 hours, and then in 70% alcohol for two hours, dehy- 

 drated, and embedded in celloidin or paraffin. 



Grenadier's Alum Carmine Solution. 



Carmine (No. 40), ,. . . . . : 1 grin. 



Potash alum, . ....... ... . . 3-5 grms. 



Distilled water, ... ... . 100 c. c. 



Add the alum and carmine to the water ; place over a 

 flame, and bring the water to the boiling point; allow to 

 boil 15 minutes. As soon as the solution is cold, filter, arid 

 it will be ready for use. Tissues hardened in the chrome 

 salts, alcohol, or bichloride of mercur}^ are well stained in 

 this solution ; stain en masse. The pieces remain in the 

 stain from 24 to 48 hours (even longer if they are large), 

 are then washed for several hours in flowing water, dehy- 

 drated, and embedded in paraffin or celloidin. 



Orth's Lithium Carmine Solution. 



Carmine, . . . . -. 2.5 grms. 



Lithium carbonate, . . . , . . 1.2 grms. 



Distilled water, . . . . . . 100 c. c. 



The carmine and lithium carbonate are dissolved in 

 warm water ; allow to cool, and filter. Sections remain in 



