MMICJOwMUA tion period longer than that of viral respiratory tract infections, severe pneumonia lasting more than a week, diaphoresis, low leucocytosis, cold- agglutination of erythrocytes, and pleural sequels had the earmarks of what is now known as Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Eaton agent) pneumonia5 and which, indeed, is a non-viral primary " atypical " pneumonia.There is no reason to believe that it is a "new" disease.It is a newly delineated one.Aitiological studies of nasopharyngeal washings from two patients were made in 1938 by Francis and Magill' and inde- pendently by Stokes, Kenney, and Shaw.7 Cultures disclosed no known pathogen, but at that time no one suspected or looked for mycoplasma (P.P.L.O.) as a possible.cause.An agent was recovered that passed through a Berkefeld V and a 780 mp collodion membrane filter.Intra- nasal inoculation of ferrets caused no disease, but further transfer intranasally or intracerebrally in mice and guinea-pigs caused monocytic pneumonia, toxic de- generation of the brain, and paresis after seven to ten days.During the first few passages most of the mice died; in subse- quent passage the agent lost virulence and vanished.It may have been an un- recognized mycoplasma.-Iam, etc.,
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Field et al. (1963) studied this question.