[Histonet] Hematoxylin Shortage??

[Rittman, Barry R]

I also think that home made hematoxylin such as Ehrlich's is superior in it's staining.
I have heard some criticism of controlling the oxidation so that the hematoxylin does not overoxidise. We used to have several bottles and when one had reached its "peak" then transfer to a large separating funnel with a layer of paraffin oil on the surface. This prevented further oxidation and could just dispense amount needed from the stopcock at the base.
I was trained in the UK where cost was always a factor and labor used to be cheaper.
Here in the States it seems as if almost everyone relies on made up solutions. This has two problems. One is that individuals may (and I repeat may) not realize why there are certain components in solutions and  not as readily appreciate the basis of the staining and therefore able to correct problems when they arise.
I believe that the decision to eliminate the practical portion of the HT exam pushes us further in that direction.
When my granddaughter (who is almost 4) is able to prepare a meal for us on her own she will have received a lot of instruction in preparing dishes from scratch.
Barry

________________________________

From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of kemlo
Sent: Sun 3/30/2008 2:54 AM
To: 'Akemi Allison-Tacha'; 'Gayle Callis'; 'Emily Sours'; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Hematoxylin Shortage??



We used to have 5 litre flasks of haematoxylin ripening in the window for
months; if you got taken short you had to artificially ripen using an
oxidising agent. If you had enough stock then the sun did the work.

I always thought "organic" haematoxylin stained better that the factory made
stuff but I do think it overoxidised at a slower rate and gave 'cleaner;
results.

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Akemi
Allison-Tacha
Sent: 29 March 2008 19:55
To: Gayle Callis; Emily Sours; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Hematoxylin Shortage??

Hi All,

Yes, Gayle's memory is still going strong!  I remember
the boat rumor around 1976.  And yes, I too was making
Harris hematoxylin with mercuric oxide "red".  We
would let it ripen in the dark for a few weeks before
using it.  What a wonderful sheen it had.  I remember
a student was making it in the old Providence Hall
nursing school before we moved to our new lab.  The
student added the total amount of the mercuric oxide
and it shot straight up to the ceiling and permanently
stained it.   That was a heck of a lesson!

Regards,
Akemi

--- Gayle Callis <gayle.callis <@t> bresnan.net> wrote:

> Not the goat dying, but more like a boat sinking.
>
> The last time there was a "rumored" hematoxylin
> shortage, back in the 70's,
> it was some boat sinking with all the Campechium
> logs aboard.  I recall some
> panic stockpiling of hematoxylin - the days when we
> made the stain ourselves
> with mercuric oxide.  I think the sunken boat rumor
> was a figment of
> someones vivid imagination.
>
> For all the hematoxylin historians out there,
> correct me if I am wrong.
>
> Gayle Callis
> HTL/HT/MT(ASCP)
> Bozeman MT 59715
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Emily Sours" <talulahgosh <@t> gmail.com>
> To: <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
> Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 7:25 AM
> Subject: Fwd: [Histonet] Hematoxylin Shortage??
>
>
> > Why would this happen?
> > Is this like that one goat dying at Santa Cruz?
> >
> > Emily
> > --
> > People aren't like chocolates. People are
> bastards. Bastards with
> > bastard coating and bastard filling.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> >
>
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>
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Akemi Allison-Tacha, BS, HT(ASCP)HTL
Client Services Manager
PhenoPath laboratories
551 North 34th Street, Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98103-8675
Work: (206) 374-9000
Cell: (425) 941-4287
E-Mail: akemiat3377 <@t> yahoo.com

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