One of my favorite words is “eosinophil.” It’s a type of white blood cell that battles parasites and other bodily intruders and literally means “lover of the dawn” or “lover of the rose.” They are knights, uncompromising and stoic, banners blowing in the morning.
Researchers named the cells because they could be easily stained with an acidic mixture of eosin (“rose-colored”) and hematoxylin (“tree blood”). When eosinophiles are laid onto a petri dish and doused with this rose-colored acidic tree blood, they, being basic, are scoured red. Some cancers are diagnosed this way.
Our knights are also called “acidophils.” I like this word less.
Researchers named the cells because they could be easily stained with an acidic mixture of eosin (“rose-colored”) and hematoxylin (“tree blood”). When eosinophiles are laid onto a petri dish and doused with this rose-colored acidic tree blood, they, being basic, are scoured red. Some cancers are diagnosed this way.
Our knights are also called “acidophils.” I like this word less.
