A Rapid Method of Iron Hæmatoxylin Stain for Protozoa in Tissue Sections and Smears

There arc several well-known methods of iron hematoxylin staining of protozoa in smears and tissue sections, viz, Heidenhain's, Mallory's, and Weigert's. In the first two of these methods, the mordant, an iron salt, and the stain hematoxylin, are applied separately; and in Weigert's method, the mordant and the stain are mixed up immediately before staining. Though excellent results can be obtained with all the above methods, Heidenhain's method evolved in 1891 is still regarded as the best for permanency and for allowing very satisfactory control over differentiation of the different structures of the cell. But it must be agreed that the method is very time-consuming; up to 48 hours or more may be required for the completion of mordanting and staining, though by the use of the mordant and the stain at a temperature higher than the room temperature, it is possible to shorten the time considerably. The iron hematoxylin stain described in this paper was first introduced by Professor M. N. De at the Pathology Department, Medical College, Calcutta, many years ago. This is an excellent hematoxylin stain for general purposes and with slight modification in the process of staining and differentiation, satisfactory results have been obtained in staining certain protozoa in tissue sections and smears.