DIFFICULTIES IN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES 

 OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF COLD TO HUMAN 

 INFECTIONS 



Robert I, McClaughry 



Department of Medicine and Surgery 



Veterans Administration 



Washington 25, D. C. 



ABSTRACT 



This report deals with the difficulties experienced in an attempt to use Veterans 

 Administration hospital records to determine the influence of cold on infectious dis- 

 ease. Various means were explored to find if exposure to cold of the members of the 

 Armed Forces of the United States engaged in the Korean War influenced the occur- 

 rence and course of infectious diseases. 



Scientific activity has risen exponentially in recent years. One 

 result of this phenomenon has been the accumulation of a very large 

 body of data. Dissemination of this information poses a major prob- 

 lem, which has been met in part by more scientific meetings and 

 journals. Strange as it seems at times to a scientist trying to find 

 time to get into his laboratory, data has been obtained faster than 

 outlets for its reporting have developed. In absolute terms, there 

 is no dearth of material to be discussed in scientific circles. These 

 events have made the ever difficult and unpopular task of presenting 

 negative results even more problematical. After all too lightly 

 accepting exactly this assignment at this symposium, the full weight 

 of what I had undertaken descended upon me. Justifying a negative 

 report to this illustrious group posed a problem of no mean propor- 

 tions, 



I request your indulgence, therefore, for a brief description of 

 the reasons for my appearance here today. It all dates back to the 

 early summer of 19 59, whenthe Chairman of the Division of Medical 

 Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences - National Research 



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