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in reply to: The Forum #1431

Many apologies. I’m not much better on FB! Don I would appreciate if our worthy Webmaster could remove my empty posts

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in reply to: The Forum #1430

Hi Carys The Forum is a valuable asset to the IAS and its membership.Facebook is totally inappropriate for posting anything connected with the working practices of our membership. Robert Clayson did a superb job in setting up the Forum for us and I would oppose its abandonment.Don

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in reply to: Marjorie England #1285

The Enigma that was Marjorie!
Amazing that we really only met one Marjorie – our President and friend being Marjorie the Scientist. We were aware of another Marjorie – the one that lived in Chipperfield and loved her Dalmatians, and her Budgie, and we were aware of the Marjorie who loved to spend time at her holiday cottage near Pandy, Abergavenny. That was it. At Marjorie’s funeral yesterday we heard of a number of other compartments to Marjorie’s life. She helped out in a local school, she was an accomplished artist even painting flowers for HRH Prince Charles and she delighted in fine dining, including at the House of Commons where she was co-founder of a ladies dining club. Her love of arts and crafts was also referred to, in particular her passion for antiques, antique jewellery and pearls. Since the tragic loss of her husband she had struggled to come to terms with his death.Marjorie had a nephew who lived in Reading, in addition to her brother who lives in California.I really enjoyed meeting again Jes and John, Dave and Vin and Dr Jeremy Metters. An emotional farewell, set in an idyllic setting of 72 acres of beautiful woodland. There was a gathering hall where refreshments were served, then we crossed the courtyard to the woodland hall where the funeral ceremony took place. After this there was a very private cremation at nearby Chilterns Crematorium at Amersham. The mix of religious ceremony and eulogies delivered by a number of friends, including Dave Adams, was totally memorable and appropriate for ‘our’ Marjorie. I believe she would have approved!
Donald Farr

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in reply to: Fact or Fiction? #1260

FACT! I started to use it to spray prosections being used by students and it successfully camaflouged/ hid/ masked/ neutralised any remaining formalin odour.It was recommended to me by one of your predecessors at Camden Town – Susan Evans.

Don

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in reply to: Terry Williamson #1250

I can only repeat the sentiments expressed by John.
Terry was a lovely man, a family man, an IAS man and a very long term personal friend. He will be sorely missed by all who ever had the pleasure of meeting him.
Julie and I offer our condolences to Gill and the family.
Don

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in reply to: Phenol prohibition #1228

Who would have dreamed that over 30 years later, from the meeting at Kings in July 1983 of London Anatomical Technicians which led to the birth of the I.A.S, that we would be able to instantly network world wide on matters affecting our work.I feel the need to contribute on this issue. Phenol is dangerous BUT, treated with respect it does what it says on the tin. It is effective at preventing mould. It is not banned in the U.K and is still used in some Medical and Vet Schools. My own Department, from which I retired in 2005, still uses Phenol in the same concentrations today, as when I first became involved in the Dissecting Room at Kings some 45 years ago. A bit more safety conscious, I concede! Gone is the bucket mix; in are the electric pumps and sensible effective personal protection.Phenol and Formalin are both unpleasant, BUT both are effective, used sensibly.It might be that local safety officers would like to ban both, legislation has not yet done so.Phenol and Formalin substitutes have been introduced but have largely been ineffective for our specific use.Finally, I thank all the people who acknowledged my 70th following John’s ‘reminder’ in the last News Magazine. Next year John will hit the same milestone; indeed but a few months after Eric celebrates his 80th.Must go, my carer is calling ………..

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in reply to: Plastination #985

;) Obviously Joyce, you are taking very early retirement – a bit like I did!

Best wishes, hopefully see you again in August, don

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in reply to: IAS Spring Meeting 2011 Imperial College #957

Hi Gary,

http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/contacts/interactivemap/

This map should help. The site is 4 to 5 miles west of Charing Cross in Central London, and is found in downtown Hammersmith, roughly adjacent to Hammersmith flyover. Nearest tube stations Baron’s Court, and walk through the graveyard; or Hammersmith, and walk down Fulham Palace Road.

In the good old days Charing Cross Hospital used to be opposite Charing Cross Main Line Station. Nowdays the original building is a Police Station.

To answer your main question – any hotel / guest house with an address in Hammersmith and a W6 post code would be in walking distance.

Hope to see you there :D Don

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in reply to: Equipment Recommendations Required #941

Hi Mike,

I would suggest a visit across the water, visit some other Departments, speak to the people doing the job, see what equipment they use, and what their thoughts are on alternative equipment.

From retirement I would positively recommend a visit to London – Kirsty at King’s, Wendy at University College; Tracy at Brighton, Bill or Steve at Bristol and also a visit to Lucie at Cambridge and Ryan at Oxford. (At King’s we did not, and still do not, have a butchers grade band saw for large scale anatomical slicing, we used the excellent facility at Cambridge and Bristol).

You have the chance to spend big money – Do it wisely, do not allow yourself to ever think ‘I wish I had not bought that!’.

Best wishes for 2011

Good luck, Don

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in reply to: Formaldehyde #898

It is worth noting that another major industrial user of formaldeheyde is in cavity wall insulation. Obviously not the Rockwool fibre type insulation, but the variety where the solution is pumped in and then solidifies. This occasionally leaves ‘new builds’ smelling of our favourite fixative.

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in reply to: Embalming Fluid #895

I think that you will find that ‘The Cambridge Solution’ is what was in use in Anatomy in Cambridge at least 15 years ago, developed by Bari Logan et al, and produced commercially for them, and anyone else tempted to buy it. Basically, their ‘in house’ fluid which worked for them.;)

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in reply to: Test Announcement #868

:) All 19 members of the extended Council were contacted during the test of the Council Forum from 7 days ago.

10 people confirmed acceptance of the ‘prompt’ e.mail by posting direct on the site.

7 people responded to the ‘prompt’ e.mail, by replying by e.mail direct to the web master.

I have confirmation that the ‘prompt’ was shown on the last person’s computer.

I also received it!

That accounts positively for all 19, I can categorically say that the system works, exactly as Robert Clayson designed it. Perhaps more Council business can be carried on the site now.

Thanks to people who wrote kindly to me, personally very much appreciated.

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in reply to: Embalming Fluid #852

ChristineH responded by e.mail and I post it here.

Hi Ryan,

We used cantabrian for a while but went back to Vickers 4 after losing 2 bodies to mould [the hairy green and black type].
The Sheffield guy told me about Malkyl which is an anti fungal obtained from Forward chemicals.We had an infection which we named ‘the yoghourt'[because it was a milky slimy type].We now spray all the specimens after use and wrap them in cloths dipped in a strong solution.It does catch your breath but is keeping things under control if you wipe off the infection and spray well with a strong soln.

Good luck

Chris

p.s. they have been having problems in Canada as well!

MarkS responded by e.mail and I post it here.

You could try our formulation made by Vickers.
MarkS
Southampton

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in reply to: Embalming Fluid #848

;) I personally think that there is no substitute for the tried and tested embalming fluids as honed to perfection in ones own laboratory. I would even concedede reducing the amount of phenol and formalin to defer to Health and Safety as necessary.

There is no doubt that glycerine will allow the growth of mould, lower concentrations of phenol (or even the absence of phenol) plus lower concentrations of formalin will allow mould to grow more readily. The addition of Industrial Methylated Spirit will also assist in the efficiency of the fluid – however the cost will rocket.

I do sympathise Ryan. I personally have never been a fan of bought in fluids, far preferring to buy my chemicals in bulk and mixing, in accordance with current Health and Safety recommendations, my own fluid.

Experience has shown that London Tap Water has happily allowed the growth of mould.

Good luck

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in reply to: bar coding #842

Hi Chris,

I did think about initiating the system when I was at Kings as I was so impressed with the system already in use at the Royal College of Surgeons of England at Lincolns Inn Fields. I thought the whole idea had great potential but never got around to asking for the money and implementing it.

Closer home to you, a school that use micro chipping is Birmingham. Vicki Cottrell uses the system to great advantage. I have tried twice to get Vicki to speak at an IAS meeting and describe and demonstrate the system, but so far I have failed.

Perhaps Vicki could be invited to demonstrate at the Spring meeting 2010 at King’s College London.

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