Metabolic Diseases in 1951. Later, during an oral history interview (51), the interviewer
asked Dr. Sebrell why Dr. Topping never became the Director of NIH. Sebrell became
very evasive and circumspect, never providing s definitive answer to the question. The
question unanswered, thus, has become a subject for speculative romance.
Investigations into the etiology of the common cold have met with success elsewhere
following the dismal events discussed above. In subsequent years, around 1970, with the
availability of tissue culture techniques, Sir Christopher Andrewes, by simulating the
physical conditions in the nose and by using respiratory epithelial cells in the tissue
culture media, was able to isolate agents that produced the clinical syndrome of the
common cold (52). This group of agents has been designated Rhinoviruses and exists in
over 100 recognized serological types. Other viruses discovered since early 1950 by
Huebner and associates (53) at the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases such as
adenoviruses, echoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, para-influenza, certain Coxsackie
virus strains, and even influenza itself, have all been shown at times to produce cold-like
signs and symptoms.
Dr. Armstrong received the following letter (54) intending to soften the blow for
his abrupt dismissal from the position as Chief of the Division (soon to become the
Laboratory) of Infectious Diseases. The letter from Surgeon General Leonard A. Scheele
(through the Director of the National Institutes of Health – Dr. R. E. Dyer) was dated
October 19, 1948, and read as follows:
“Dear Dr. Armstrong,