‖ pneumococcus
(pnjuːməʊˈkɒkəs, njuː-)
[mod.L., f. pneumo- + Gr. κόκκος berry: cf. micrococcus.]
Name for two different micro-organisms of oval form (Friedländer's and Fränkel's) which have been found in the rusty sputum of pneumonia, and supposed to be the cause of the disease. Hence pneumococcal (-ˈkɒkəl), pneumococcic (-ˈkɒksɪk), pneumococcous (-ˈkɒkəs), adjs., pertaining to or caused by a pneumococcus.
| 1890 Daily News 11 Dec. 3/6 What is peculiar in this disease is the alliance with this bacillus of pneumococcus, which also lives in Russian marshes, river mud, and village pools. 1897 Allbutt's Syst. Med. IV. 518 Experiments on pneumococcal infection in rabbits. 1898 Ibid. V. 113 The diplococcus described by Fränkel (now often called pneumococcus, in succession to the title enjoyed for a short period by Friedländer's bacillus). Ibid. 27 Varieties of membrane,..described as primary diphtheritic and primary pneumococcic. Ibid. 348 Primary pneumococcous pleurisy is a common disease. |