Histological and histochemical examination of American Indian scalps, mummies, and a shrunken head

The histological and histochemical detail remaining in Jivaro shrunken heads, North American Indian scalps, and mummified remains from Peru, Chile, and the American southwest, is remarkable when these specimens are rehydrated and fixed by Sandison's methods. Special techniques and stains used frequently in the histochemistry of the skin brought out details which were less evident or not apparent in the routine hematoxylin and eosin preparations. The polarizing microscope was particularly useful in demonstrating keratin and collagen fibers. Use of the silver stain for melanin not only aided in demonstrating hairs, but also outlined the pattern of epidermal detail by supranuclear accumulation and melanin dust in the stratum corneum. The hematoxylin-phloxine-alcian blue orange G stain for prekeratin, keratin, and mucin showed long persistence of the prekeratin and keratin staining properties. The stain identified strands as epidermis where they would otherwise have been overlooked. The Luxol Fast Blue stain, birefringence, and appearance with phase contrast microscopy are promising means for evaluating the degradation of skin collagen under conditions of dry preservation. The first loss of histological information occurs in extravascular cells of the dermis; mast cells, eosinophils, and other perivascular cells could not be identified in any of the specimens. Fine elastic fibers near the epidermis disappear before the larger, mid-dermal elastic fibers. Some of the disease processes which could be diagnosed in very old mummified skin are discussed in terms of the remaining structures.