Methods of Gilding
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
This article from the 1928-1936 Soviet Medical Encyclopedia describes gold impregnation techniques used in microtechnique to stain nerve endings and other tissue elements. It details various historical modifications of the method, including those introduced by Cohnheim, Bastian, and Ranvier.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
METHODS OF GILDING. For the purpose of impregnating nerve endings and other elements in microtechnique, gold chloride AuCl3+2H2O or the double compound of gold chloride and hydrochloric acid AuCl3+HCl+3H2O is used mainly. A 2% stock solution is usually employed, from which dilutions required for each individual case are prepared ex tempore. Gilding was introduced by Cohnheim (1886), and his method may still be considered the best; the following modifications of this method are known: Bastian, Löwit, Ranvier, Gerlach, Muzhenkov, Kolosov, and others. They serve to reveal nerve endings in the skin, muscles, cornea, and terminal nerve apparatuses, as well as for the impregnation of interstitial tissue. Pieces of fresh or fixed tissue are subjected to gold treatment, which are then reduced by the action of light, formic acid, lemon juice, chromic acid, or propionic acid. All manipulations should be performed with glass needles or wooden sticks. After washing, the objects are embedded in celloidin or paraffin according to general rules. - Cohnheim's method: pieces of fresh tissue are placed for a few minutes in a 0.5% solution of gold chloride, rinsed slightly with distilled water, and transferred to water acidified with acetic acid. Reduction occurs under the influence of light for varying times, from several hours to several days. - Bastian's method: pieces of fresh tissue are impregnated with a weak solution of gold chloride (1:2,000) acidified with hydrochloric acid (1 drop per 75 cm3). Reduction takes place in a mixture of equal volumes of formic acid and water. - Ranvier's method: pieces of a fresh object are placed in freshly squeezed and filtered lemon juice. When they become transparent, they are rinsed slightly with distilled water and transferred to a 1% solution of gold chloride (for about 20 minutes). They are reduced in water acidified with acetic acid in the light or in formic acid in the dark (1 part acid, 3 parts water). - In addition to the above methods, in which the application of gold is the main procedure, there are a number of methods in which gilding is used as an additional manipulation, for example, for toning silver-impregnated preparations.
A. Svateev.
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Cite this page
“Methods of Gilding.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/methods-of-gilding/