| Despite a large number of "cold cures" the American | | | | tremendous amount of research and large sums of |
| Medical Society consensus is that there is no "official" | | | | money are being directed toward solving the |
| cure for the cold; that most colds seem to last about | | | | mysteries of the "common cold" and ridding us of the |
| one week; but that some colds clear up rather | | | | unpleasant experience. |
| quickly, within 24 hours or so, without running the full, | | | | The hope rests - presently - in vaccines that will |
| longer course. | | | | prevent colds, rather than in a cure for them. |
| In the spring of 1960, a University of Illinois team | | | | Dr. Thomas G. Ward, professor of virology at Notre |
| disclosed that it had made thousands of tests on | | | | Dame University, believes that within a couple of |
| 2,500 volunteer subjects with no indication that there | | | | years a vaccine will be available to prevent possibly |
| is a preventive or a cure for the common cold. At | | | | as much as 70% of all common colds. |
| least 70 viruses are reported to cause any of the | | | | Significant progress has been made in this direction |
| conditions extending from the simple cold of runny | | | | since 1914 when Walther Kruse, a German scientist, |
| nose and mild discomforts to influenza. | | | | first attributed the common cold to a virus source. |
| As a matter of fact, researchers point out that there | | | | Dr. A. R. Dochez of Columbia University, Dr. |
| is no such thing as the "common cold." We may be | | | | Christopher Howard Andrews of England and the |
| suffering from an attack of streptococci, | | | | Cold Research Institute (established there in 1946), |
| staphylococci, or diplococci germs, centering around | | | | have contributed much in this direction, as well as |
| the respiratory system; or we may have an allergy | | | | scientists at the National Institute of Health of the |
| that evolves into all the commonly recognized | | | | United States Public Health Service with Dr. Robert J. |
| symptoms of a cold; and even an emotional | | | | Huebner, head of the cold research committee at |
| disturbance may be causing the trouble. | | | | Bethesda. |
| Whatever the cause or the definition, the "common | | | | Dr. Maurice Hilleman of the Army Medical School, |
| cold" and various respiratory ailments are responsible | | | | Walter Reed hospital, has been active in solving the |
| for about half of all lost working time in the nation; | | | | mysteries of the "common cold." Dr. Winston H. Price |
| they cost people around $2 billion, and bring misery to | | | | of Johns Hopkins and the above-mentioned Dr. Ward |
| untold millions of persons every year. Various | | | | of Notre Dame, have accomplished much in this area |
| estimates testify that two out of every three of us | | | | of study. Dr. George Gee Jackson already has been |
| suffer three attacks a year, and as many as 30 to | | | | quoted in reference to the findings of the University |
| 40 million persons may be uncomfortable with colds | | | | of Illinois investigating team. |
| or other respiratory ailments in one day. | | | | All in all, the battlefront of cold prevention promises |
| Knowing the statistics concerned with the high | | | | great victories for the near future, but as for a cure |
| incidence of colds is small comfort to those who are | | | | for the common cold, the story is as discouraging as |
| presently afflicted with a dripping nose, sore throat, | | | | it was 30, 100 or 1,000 years ago! There is no sure |
| and general indisposition of a cold. | | | | cure. |
| More comfort may be found in knowing that a | | | | |