Gilson's Fluid
| Nitric acid | 17 | mL |
| Acetic acid, glacial | 4 | mL |
| Mercuric chloride | 20 | g |
| Ethanol, 95% | 70 | mL |
| Distilled water | 900 | mL |
Dissolve the mercuric chloride in the water, then add the other ingredients.
This is a general purpose anatomical fixative popular with zoologists. As with all mercuric chloride containing mixtures, tissues will contain mercury pigment which must be removed. Davenport notes that the amount of ethanol is so little that it probably has no effect and could be omitted.
Time
Fixation of averasge sized pieces of tissue should be complete after overnight treatment.
Aftertreatment
No particular treatment.
Reference
Davenport, H.A., (1960),
Histological and histochemical techniques,
W. B. Saunders Co., London, UK., Oxford, UK.
