Hi, I too have found them rather difficult, burial is out - the preservation chemicals continue to work and bacteria etc will not thrive. I don't know how strong the mixture is but would be very wary of boiling. I have used a repeating cycle of soaking in warm water with biotex and cutting away softened tissues. My specimens were large birds and small fish - the birds were ok (mostly formalin) but the fish are not very successful for the time and effort!

Sheila

SH-D ArchaeoZoology
http://www.shd-archzoo.co.uk
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----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">adam heinrich

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 10:44 PM

Subject: [ZOOARCH] preserved specimens

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has experience cleaning specimens that may be preserved in a mixture of ethylene glycol, phenol, formalin, and water. I was wondering if this preservation could affect bone condition? Also, if the specimens are boiled down to remove the soft tissue, could boiling the preserved specimen release toxic fumes? Or would burial be a better method? A well ventilated lab is a given. Thanks, Adam Heinrich

"Old crow of wisdom did say ...people of Asa land, it's only just begun..." Bathory

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