[Histonet] Tower Of Babel erected on Hematoxylin

Thu May 20 12:52:31 CDT 2004

Geroge cole wrote:
<< Folks, I mixed my Hematoxylin and ripened it on the roof like the
pioneers did. As I more likely got rain on it than maturing sun light here
in Oregon,...>>

Geroge, is it true that Oregonians rust rather than tan...?

Tim Morken
(in sunny california)

-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Gill [mailto:garygill <@t> dcla.com] 
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 9:57 AM
To: 'George Cole'; 'histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu'
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Tower Of Babel erected on Hematoxylin

An E.C. Cole published Studies on Hematoxylin Stains in Stain Technology in
1943.

Truth be told, hematoxylin formulations are more alike than different with a
few notable exceptions.  Differences in performance are more often the
result of how they're used than what they're made of.  In theory, at least,
all hematoxylins should produce equivalent visual outcomes when used
properly.  The composition of some (e.g., Gill's) contribute more to
successful outcomes than the composition of most (e.g., Mayer's [contains
controlled chemical chloral hydrate {the stuff of "Mickey Finns", aka
"knockout drops"}, too much sodium iodate, therefore short useful life {not
sold commercially}]), Harris's [too strong, overstains, four variants
{full-strength, half-strength, with and without acetic acid}, composition of
differentiator {how much HCl dissolved in either water or alcohol?}]).

Gary Gill

-----Original Message-----
From: George Cole [mailto:georgecole <@t> ev1.net] 
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 11:15 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Tower Of Babel erected on Hematoxylin

Histotechs;
There is everything from smooth adoption and irate rejection of the new
means of using Hematoxylin, that barky stuff Ehrilch discovered to be useful
in staining tissues long ago. I usually tell about GILLS III, then duck the
diatribes that come usually bark back at me. Folks, I mixed my Hematoxylin
and ripened it on the roof like the pioneers did. As I more likely got rain
on it than maturing sun light here in Oregon, I was delighted to hear about
instant mercuric ripening of the stain. I Can't believe it,  we used to play
with mercury like children.  So when hematoxylin preps came along that were
already ripened, I thought the glory days were here.  Well, all the mixes
later---of which Mayers and Harris were dominant for so long, and  have
lately given way to GILLS I, II, and III mixtures. Heated responses result
from discussions of which of these very good mixes, all of them,  ranging
all the way from you techs who still ripen the stuff on the roof, to those
who idolize the GILLs III.  Tempers flare.  The Tower Of Babel was sweet
talking Nice Town compared to some of the heat a tech will take when he
tells the world about how well his favorite Hematoxylin stain works. Folks,
when ever one of the improvements came along, I got some.  I set up my
hematoxylin as usual and set up the new candidate and ran them side by side.
I then asked all hands---techs, doctors, my wife----which one they liked
better.  Which ever one won, I kept ( ssshhh, provided I liked it too).  The
use of GILLS III at my retirement was a result of tests  in my lab with
residents and pathologists, as well as massive trials in the main lab,
comparisons of the old and the new----side-by-side trials on the same
tissues---no  one cussed---no one drew back---the matter was so straight
forward, it was quickly settled. And in every side-by-side trial the GILLS
II, at first, and then the GILLS III, won. There was no question about it.
The slides did the talking. The rangling on the histonet about Hematoxylins
resemble  the Scholastic Age of Reverence to Ariistotle----kneeling  to
Authority---the authority usually being a person's personal habit. Folks, it
doesn't really hurt to allow improvements into one's life. The increased
quality and the usually simpler processes, are gifts available to the
receptive tech. And in the background, the patients being served with the
stain investigations are better served. 
Now then, I sign my name---Gus Swanser.----oh phooey, I might as well put my
real name down and duck. georgecole <@t> ev1.net

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