Fluid preservation refers to specimens and objects that are preserved in fluids, most commonly alcohol and formaldehyde, but also glycerin, mineral oil, acids, glycols, and a host of other chemicals that protect the specimen from deterioration. Some of the oldest natural history specimens in the world are preserved in fluid.Despite the fact that fluid preservation has been practiced for more than 350 years, this is the only handbook that summarize all that is known about this complex and often confusing topic.Fluid Preservation: A Comprehensive Reference covers the history and techniques of fluid preservation and how to care for fluid preserved specimens in collections.More than 900 references on fluid preservation were reviewed for this project.An historical survey of preservative recipes provides for guidance for museums with older collections (many fluid preservatives contain hazardous chemicals).Current standards and best practices for collection care and management are presented.Current and controversial topics (e.g., the preservation of DNA, alternatives to alcohol and formaldehyde) are discussed and fully referenced.Health and safety issues involved with caring for fluid preserved collections are discussed.The final chapter addresses fluid preserved specimens as cultural products and their use in art, literature, film, and song.Although most fluid-preserved specimens are found in natural history and medical museums, it is not at all uncommon to find them in art museums, history museums, and science centers. In addition to animals, plants, and anatomical specimens, fluid preserved collections include some minerals and fossils and many other objects.Fluid Preservationis an essential reference for:Natural history curatorsNatural history collections managersConservatorsMedical and anatomical museum collections managers and curatorsArt and history museum staff who have fluid preserved specimens and objects in their care (e.g., works by Damien Hirst)Private collectorsResearchers using museum collections as sources of DNA, isotopes, etc.Health and safety professionalsExhibit planners and designersMuseum facilities planners and managersPeople interested in the history of sciencePeople interested in the history of natural history museumsMuseum studies students

John Simmonsholds a B.A. in systematic ecology and an M.A. in Historical Administration and Museum Studies. In 1986, he completed the Collections Care Pilot Training Program (funded by the Bay Foundation) to become one of 30 people in the country to receive specialized training in conservation and collections care. He has spent a total of 30 years as collections manager in two of the largest collections of fluid preserved specimens in the United States (the California Academy of Sciences and the Biodiversity Research Center at the University of Kansas). He has published extensively on collections care topics and conducted seminars, workshops, and training programs in the US, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe on the care of natural history collections (his previous publications include the AAM standard reference on collections management policies).

IntroductionAcknowledgementsPart I. Fluid Preservation Techniques and CollectionsChapter 1. History of Fluid PreservationFluid Preservation in the Ancient WorldHistory of Ethyl AlcoholOrigin of the Name AlcoholGlass ContainersThe Discovery of Preservation of Specimens in Ethyl AlcoholEarly Instructions for Preserving Specimens in FluidsLater Instructions for Preserving Specimens in FluidsFluid Preserved CollectionsOther Fluid PreservativesSummaryChapter 2. FixationFixationFormaldehydeOrigin of the Names Formaldehyde, Formol, and FormalinCommercial FormaldehydeFormaldehyde as a Fixative and PreservativeFixative pH RangeNarcotizationFixatives for Botanical SpecimensTemperature, Time, and Rates of Penetration of FixativesThe Penetration-Fixation ParadoxLipids and FixationFormaldehyde and Field WorkParaformaldehydePost-Formaldehyde Fixation WashingUnwanted Effects of FormaldehydeGluteraldehydeAldehyde SafetyAlternative and Proprietary FixativesChapter 3. PreservationPreservation without FixationFreezingTransfer between FluidsPreservative QualityOld Fluid PreservativesBotanical Use of Fluid PreservationGlycerinIsopropyl AlcoholFluid Preservation for DNA ExtractionEvaporationClearing and StainingAnatomical and Histological Fluid PreparationsMounting Specimens Inside ContainersGlycol, Phenol, and Phenoxetol as PreservativesNovec FluidMineral 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 in Fixatives and PreservativesChapter 5. Managing Fluid Preserved CollectionsIdentification of Fluid PreservativesChecking Fluid ConcentrationRe-Use of Old AlcoholpH of Preservative SolutionsPreparing Fixatives and PreservativesContainers and SealsAlternatives to Glass ContainersLabelingThe Storage EnvironmentTopping Up and Replacing PreservativesWhy do Closures Fail?Bacterial and Fungal Growth in Fluid CollectionsDetection and RemediationRehydration of Fluid Preserved SpecimensMoving CollectionsExhibition of Fluid Preserved SpecimensDealing with Old Containers and Old SpecimensRepair of Damaged Fluid Preserved SpecimensHealth and SafetyFire PreventionFormaldehyde SafetyChapter 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 of Fluid PreservationPart II. Literature in this FieldChapter 7. Literature Cited.Chapter 8. Literature Reviewed but Not CitedPart III. Reference TablesAppendixIndexAbout the Author