[ Craig Smith wrote in 040502 MMDigest:
>> I can't help but wonder if the Logwood they refer to is actually
>> similar to what someone called "tree wood" which I suppose is yet
>> another word for "deal".
Logwood is a Central American tree whose wood yields a dye called
Haematoxylin.  This dye, in combination with Eosin, is the most widely
used dye in microscopy (usually called H & E).  I believe it is (or
was) also used for dying leather.
Regards
Don Cox
 [ You're right, and I was wrong about Craig Smith's hunch.  My 7 kg
 [ dictionary of 1927 says that logwood "(so called from being imported
 [ in logs)" is the heartwood of the tree, Haematoxylum campechianum,
 [ and also the tree itself.  -- Robbie
  |