PNEUMONIA

The acute inflammation of the lungs known as
pneumonia is generally due to a micrococcus known
by several names : streptococcus pneumonus, or diplo-
coccus (in pairs) pneumon-m, or pneumococcus, or
FrdnkeVs diphcoccus
~ pneumonicB, after its -r

discoverer; the term J0^' ''
pneumococcus bemg ,*
used more commonh
than any other
probably on account ,

of its brevity.
The pneumococcus
often occurs in pairs



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/



chains, USUailv show- (Frankela) with unataloed capsules
' •' xlOOO

ing a capsule or clear

zone surrounding the cell and bearing a marked
I resemblance to streptococcus pyogenes.
Pneumonia manifests several different types and is



r



72 BACTERIOLOGY FOR NURSES

not always due to an invasion of pneumoeocci,

neither does the pneumococcus always produce the
same results, the variations no doubt being largely
due to the condition of the individuals. It was
formerly thought that exposure to cold was the sole
cause of pneumonia, and it is true that such exposure
by lowering resistance opens the way for an invasion
of bacteria, while other factors, such as dissipation,
loss of sleep, lack of food, and prostration due toother
diseases, as typhoid fever, scarlet fever, and measles,
may all be contributory to an attack of pneumonia.
There are three types of pneumonia : lobar (acute
croupous), broncho-pneuTHonia, or lobular pneumonia,
and capillary bronchitis.
Lobar pneumonia is said to be due almost entirely
to the pneumococcus, which is found in the blood,
while lobular pneumonia and capillary bronchitis
are sometimes due to other organisms, as staphylo-
coccus, or streptococcus, or B. diphihervje, or B.
