Medicine Looks Ahead 253 



with the spread of cold than a cough or a sneeze. On the 

 other hand, if the bacteria or virus of the cold is air-borne, the 

 use of germicidal lamps should reduce the danger of infec- 

 tion. 



Influenza has been proved to be a virus disease, and Type A, 

 B, and a probable Type Y have been distinguished. A virus 

 vaccine has been administered at the University of California 

 with fairly good results. Science believes that better vaccines 

 will be developed in the future. 



Blood Plasma for Civilian Use 



Wartime advances in the use of blood plasma and the de- 

 velopment of blood banks are proving of great aid in the 

 treatment of patients. Big hospitals have banks of plasma and 

 of whole blood completely tested and ready for immediate 

 use. Of course, the small hospitals are not so well supplied. 

 But these small institutions in New York City are being aided 

 today by the Blood and Plasma Exchange Bank, which was 

 established by the Medical Society of the County of New 

 York. 



"Whole blood, plasma (the pale, straw-colored liquid in 

 which the red cells float), or dried plasma now become as 

 negotiable as checks," explains Waldemar Kaempffert, science 

 editor of the New York Times. "The cost of transfusions is 

 reduced; time is saved; the poor can receive blood products 

 free. 



"The Blood and Plasma Exchange Bank is particularly com- 

 petent to benefit small hospitals and tie them to the big hos- 

 pitals which always have a surplus of blood. Suppose, for 

 example, that a transfusion is called for by a physician. Mem- 

 bers of the patient's family offer their blood. If it matches 

 that of the patient and is acceptable there is no difficulty. 

 But suppose it does not match, though it is good blood. 



