A quantitative study of decalcification methods in histology.

Vacuum.-By creating a vacuum the process of decalcification can be characterized as follows: Insoluble calciurn-salts+acid o-soluble calciumsalts+CO2. The carbon dioxide, rapidly extracted, will disturb the balance of the chemical equilibrium, and, according to Le Chatelier, result in an acceleration of the reaction. Waerhaug (1949), however, points out that there will be a more intensive contact between the specimen and the surrounding fluid, the CO2 bubbles being rapidly removed. Waerhaug (1949), Frank and Deluzarche (1950), and Engelbreth-Holm and Plum (1951) also reported a considerable shortening of the time of decalcification. Molenaar (1957) found the decalcification process only slightly accelerated.