METHOD XVII. 



THE KAISERLING METHOD.' 



A method for "wet preparations " of the central nervous sys- 

 tem for museum and demonstration specimens. Results in a 

 specimen tough enough to resist much handling, and at the same 

 time one in which both the normal size and especially the color 

 are retained to a remarkable degree. Well adapted for patho- 

 logical specimens, whether of nervous or other tissues. 



SPECIAL REAGENTS REQUIRED. 



A. Fixing and hardening fluid. — 



Formalin (40 per cent, formaldehyde), 200 cc. 

 Distilled water, 1,000 cc. 

 Potassium nitrate (saltpetre), 1 5 g. 

 Potassium acetate, 30 g. 



B. Preserving fluid. — 



Potassium acetate, 200 g. 

 Glycerine, 400 cc. 

 Distilled water, 2,000 cc. 



The formulae as given will result in fluids sufficient in amount 

 for a human brain, provided the vessels used are small enough. 



PROCEDURE. 



I. The brain or spinal cord is removed and placed in a ves- 

 sel containing enough of the fixing fluid (A) to cover it well, 

 and kept in the dark for 5-8 days. 



It is advisable to inject about 400 cc. of the fluid through 

 the internal carotid artery before removing the brain, especially 

 if there is reason to believe that the post-mortem softening has 

 begun. Do not inject too much, lest the blood, and conse- 

 quently the color, be washed out of the blood-vessels. , 



The bottom of the vessel should be padded with absorbent 

 cotton, and during the period of fixation, the position of the 



'C. Kaiserling, Virchow's Archiv, Bd. 147, Heft 3, p. 389, 1897. 



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