The report of Dr. Pecora's further experiences with transtracheal needle aspiration of bronchopulmonary secretions, published elsewhere in this issue of the Journal, will undoubtedly encourage more extensive trials of the method. In diseases of the lung, a definitive diagnosis or therapeutic decision often depends on examination of material arising from the pathologic site, and the addition of a new method for obtaining such material should certainly be welcomed by clinicians.Transtracheal aspiration has advantages over bronchoscopic swabbing. Perhaps the principal attribute is that any physician can be trained to carry out the transtracheal approach at the bedside. The relative . . .