The Spatz Test for Iron in the Brain

Considerable interest has been shown of late in the occurrence of iron in the brain and its relation to certain nervous diseases. The existence of the iron can be demonstrated by placing a section of brain in concentrated ammonium hydrosulphide solution. After a few seconds the globus pallidus and the substantia nigra become a greenish-grey colour. Later, the red nucleus, the corpus dentatus cerebelli, the putamen and caudate nucleus also darken.