Basophil
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
This article from the 1928–1936 Soviet Great Medical Encyclopedia defines basophils as polymorphonuclear blood leukocytes containing granules that stain selectively with basic dyes. It describes their morphology, nuclear structure, and staining characteristics using the Giemsa method, noting that they normally constitute between 0 and 1% of human white blood cells.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
BASOPHIL (from the Greek basis—base, and phileo—to love), a polynuclear blood leukocyte containing granules that stain selectively with basic dyes. The nucleus of the basophil is usually bilobed and stands out indistinctly. The granulation is characterized by a clearly expressed irregularity in staining tone and size; when stained by the Giemsa method, it ranges from light reddish-violet to very saturated, almost black-blue. The number of granules varies. In humans, the number of basophils in the blood is very small: from 0 to 1% of all white blood cells.
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“Basophil.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/basophil/