Fluid Preservation

John E. Simmons (B.S., Systematics and Ecology; M.A., Museum Studies) worked as a zoo keeper before becoming a collection manager at the California Academy of Sciences and later at the Natural History Museum at the University of Kansas, where he also served as Director of the Museum Studies Program until 2007. He has published more than 150 papers and books on museology and the care of collections, particularly for natural history. Since 2008, Simmons has run Museologica, an international museum consulting service, and has taught workshops and university classes on the care of collections in the U.S. and abroad.

• Table of ContentsList of FiguresList of BoxesList of TablesPrefaceAcknowledgementsChapter 1. History of Fluid PreservationHistory of Ethyl AlcoholThe Discovery of Preservation of Specimens in Ethyl AlcoholInstructions for Preserving Specimens in Fluids up to 1800Instructions for Preserving Specimens in Fluids 1800 to 1900The Introduction of FormaldehydeBotanical Fluid Preservation after about 1900Instructions for Preserving Specimens in Fluids after 1900Other Fluid PreservativesSummaryChapter 2. FixationFormaldehydeCommercial FormaldehydeFormaldehyde as a Fixative and PreservativeFactors that Affect FixationTime and Penetration Rate and DepthTemperatureTissue Structure and CompositionBuffering and Fixative pH RangeConcentrationFormaldehyde and the Preservation of DNABotanical FixativesNarcotizationFixatives for Botanical SpecimensLipids and FixationFormaldehyde and Field WorkPost-Formaldehyde Fixation WashingUnwanted Effects of FormaldehydeGluteraldehydeAldehyde SafetyAlternative and Proprietary FixativesSummaryChapter 3. Preservation Preservation without FixationTransfer between FluidsPreservative QualityBotanical Uses of Fluid PreservationGlycerinIsopropyl AlcoholFluid Preservation of DNA EvaporationAnatomical and Histological Fluid PreparationsMounting Specimens Inside ContainersGlycol, Phenol, and Phenoxetol as PreservativesMineral OilUniversal FixativesCriteria for Evaluating Alternative Fixative and Preservative FluidsChapter 4. Effects of Fixatives and Preservatives on SpecimensChanges in Body Dimensions and BiomassChanges in ColorSolvent Extraction by Fixatives and PreservativesChapter 5. Managing Fluid-preserved CollectionsStandard Operating ProceduresMonitoring Containers, Specimens, and Fluid PreservativesMonitoring the Storage EnvironmentIntegrated Pest ManagementCurators, Collection Managers, and OthersFluid-Preserved Collection FacilitiesIdentification of Fluid PreservativesDetermining Fluid ConcentrationpH of Preservative SolutionsPreparing Fixatives and PreservativesContainers and Seals LabelingThe Storage EnvironmentUse of SpecimensTopping Up and Replacing PreservativesWhy do Closures Fail?Microbial Growth in Fluid Collections—Detection and RemediationRehabilitation of Fluid-Preserved CollectionsRehydration of Fluid-Preserved SpecimensMoving Fluid-Preserved CollectionsExhibition of Fluid-Preserved SpecimensOld Containers and Old SpecimensRepair of Damaged Fluid-Preserved SpecimensHealth and SafetyAlcohol SafetyFormaldehyde SafetyFire Prevention and DetectionDisaster Preparedness Plans for Fluid-Preserved CollectionsSummary Chapter 6. Fluid-preserved Collections as Cultural PatrimonyWhy Preserve Specimens in Fluid?The Fluid-preserved HumanFond Memories of Fluid PreservationFluid Preservation in Visual ArtFluid Preservation in LiteratureFluid Preservation in FilmFluid Preservation in Popular CultureThe Aesthetics and Importance of Fluid PreservationLiterature CitedReference TablesAppendix: Other Fluid Preservation LiteratureIndexAbout the Author