Kerosene: A Substitute For Acetone In Bone Preparations

Abstract

Kerosene is one of the by-products of fractional distillation of crude oil. It is a hydrocarbon and used domestically in the kitchen and industries for powering plants and automobiles. This study was carried out to appraise the defattening effects of kerosene on the caprine and porcine skulls. Bones were divided into 2 groups; one group was defattened by kerosene while the control was defattened by acetone. Our preliminary observations showed that kerosene had a strong clearing effect on bones. This effect competed favorably well with the actions of acetone used in the control group. By these preliminary observations kerosene may economically and functionally replace acetone in osteological preparations; if more basic studies of this nature are carried out.