Evening star., 1948-12-31
Cold Virus Identified in Tests,
AIDING Science in Hunt for Cure

cold SymptomS-mlght nave some
value as prophylaxis.
But DR.. Atlas indicated a vaccine
might not be the answer at all. He
would not comment on whether he
thinks the best chances for protec-
ton lie in drugs or some other
means.
Il have something IN mind,
though" he told reporters.
Natural Resistance Doubted.
Experiments at Lorton have proved
fairly conclusively that no one has a
natural resistance to MR-1 virus in
potent quantities. Only one man who
had an adequate dose" at Lorton
failed to catch a cold. And he got
one on re-infection the next year,
DR.. Atlas said.
While medicines apparently help
prevent some of the more serious
symptoms of colds, there is no evi-
dence that anything you might do
will prevent their onset" he added.
How long does a cold laste How
long is it infectious? How does
being out in cold, wet weather af-
feet it? Are you less susceptible i'm
mediately after having cold?
These are all problems for which
DR.. Atlas and DR.. Hotel hope to use
human volunteers.
Praising cooperation Of the Dis
trict Department of Corrections
and the Lorton volunteers. DR.. Atlas
said more than 400 of the prisoners
have participated in the project.
The inmates, who sign contracts for
participation, are kept in two eight
bed isolation wards during expert
mentS.
Frequent Examinations Daily.
They usually stay in isolation for
from two to six weeks at a time,
where they are examined at least
five times day. They are infected
either by administering virus-con-
tanning fluids to their nostrils or by
means of a virus spray.
Doctors also are able to check
whether prisoners get colds from
the virus MR-1 given purposely or
directly from other volunteers.
The virus grows strong enough to
cause cold symptoms in from IL to
"a hours. DR.. Atlas explained. So,
If infected persons show symptoms
within that period, it Is assumed
they caught cold from the SUBJ
stance. If a man, closeted with
others in an isolation ward, catches
a cold a week later, 1t is assumed
he was infected by one of the
others.
The new test, developed after the
cold research workers tried more
things than you can shake a stick
at" is made on allontoic fluid from
fertile eggs. after the fluid has been
infected with solutions thought to
contain MR-1. After several steps
Of preparation, the substance is
dissolved in neutrality-suspicious.
acid.
Turns Pinkish- Brown.
II virus is present, the solution
turns a pinkish-b color. This
Is then tested on a spectrophoto-
meter, which, through color de-
termination, tells scientists how
much of the virus is present. AS
many as 56 sample fluids can be
checked in a single day with the
new test.
The cold unit was allocated $780,
600 for its first years work on the
project. Subsequent allocations
were not disclosed.
Until a year ago. DR.. Atlas said
he caught colds every two weeks,
working with MR-1. He got around
that by wearing special face masks.
The young scientist was married
last week to Miss Maxine Mccall
Of 209 Taylor street, Chevy Chase,
Md, bacteriologist who has been
working with him on the cold prob
lem at the Bethesda laboratories.
They'll be back at work on the
project after motoring south on
their honeymoon.