This agent is being investigated as possibly one of the causes of minor upper respiratory
disease in man.”
An interesting corollary to the above is an excerpt from Surgeon-General Leonard A.
Scheele’s solicitation for Congressional funds in 1949: “In 1948 for the first time in
history, scientists of the National Institutes of Health succeeded in isolating a virus of the
common cold. In addition, they have developed techniques for measuring the potency of
this and other viruses, which open up new possibilities for research into the whole field of
virus diseases. This is the opening wedge driven by basic research.”*
The following account and discussion of subsequent events in the saga of the
“common cold” research is based on the author’s autobiographical notes prepared for the
Office of NIH History around 1996-1997: Dr Atlas acquired a dubious reputation during
his internship in Boston in 1945-1946. He had the reputation of being very bright, but
also brash, conceited and arrogant. He was unpopular with his fellow interns. In the same
intern group were two fellow Texans, both very capable physicians, former college
football players who made Atlas the butt of their practical jokes. The author was not
aware that Atlas had any additional advanced scientific training other than that acquired
in college or in medical school.
When the author arrived at NIH in 1948, he was pleased that he at least knew
people whom he had encountered previously. In addition to Atlas, the author had the
good fortune to find Dr. John P. (Jack) Utz who had preceded him at the Boston
internship in 1946-1947. Jack Utz was working with Dr. Dorland Davis on an influenza
study. The author tried to establish a new collegial relationship with Atlas. While waiting
(^) * Excerpt from Dr. Scheele’s presentation before the Labor-Feder (^) al Security Subcommittee on
Appropriations, House of Representatives, 81st Congress, January 28, 1949.