Re: formaldehyde

["Christina Z. Anderson" <zphoto@montana.net>]

I just got a bunch from a guy in Colorado....
Chris
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judy Seigel" <jseigel@panix.com>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca>
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 10:53 PM
Subject: RE: formaldehyde


> On Mon, 30 Mar 2009, Don Bryant wrote:
>
> > Judy,
> >
> > FWIW, I was able to purchase a 1 liter bottle of Formalin (37%) from my
> > local pharmacist. As I was visiting there one day getting a prescription
> > filled I spied the bottle sitting on a back shelf. I asked if they would
> > sell it to me and they did so without hesitation. The pharmacy attendant
> > explained that it had been ordered in error and is normally a non stock 
> > item
> > but they could get more if I wished. Less than $15 a few years ago as I
> > recall.
> It used to be as easily bought as, say, rubbing alcohol, but then they 
> so-to-speak cracked down on it. But we heard (for instance) about 
> formaldehyde disappearing from supply closets in hospitals -- and, as 
> noted, the rumor developed that it was used to make some kind of 
> controlled substance. I could get it by prescription, which I did (and at 
> the time a smallish bottle was $12), but it was a large pain generally, 
> especially dragging everything outside, and the glyoxal (available by mail 
> order) worked as well & usable right in the studio, so I got out of the 
> habit.
>
> It seems however that Europe is more liberal in this respect than the 
> US -- maybe they have fewer criminals?  (Or less uptight gov't, having 
> sent their puritans over here circa 1797).
>
> J.
>
> > But as you say a very noxious product best used outside in warm weather.
> >
> > Don Bryant