Cook’s
Copper Hematoxylin

Ingredient	Amount	Function
Hematoxylin	10 g	Dye
Cupric sulphate	2.5 g	Mordant
Potassium aluminum sulphate	15 g	Mordant
Distilled water	100 mL	Solvent

 

Compounding procedure
Place the dry powders in a mortar and grind together.
Add sufficient water to make a paste.
Leave for 48 hours, then add the remaining water.
Leave for a further 12 hours, and filter.

Method

1. Bring sections to water with xylene and ethanol.
2. Place into the staining solution for an appropriate time.
3. Rinse with water.
4. Differentiate if necessary
5. Wash well with water.
6. Counterstain if wished.
7. Dehydrate with ethanol, clear with xylene and mount with a resinous medium.

Expected results

• Nuclei  –  blue-black
• Background  –  as counterstain or unstained

Notes

1. The staining time should be determined by trial.
2. The original method called for 15 grams of "extract of logwood". Gray comments that this has about 70% dye content, so I have specified 10 grams dye.

 

Reference

Gray, Peter. (1954)
The Microtomist's Formulary and Guide.
Originally published by:– The Blakiston Co.
Republished by:– Robert E. Krieger Publishing Co.
  Citing:–
    Hogg, J. (1883)
    The microscope
    Routledge, London, England