The Failure of Antihistaminic Drugs to Prevent or Cure the Common Cold and Undifferentiated Respiratory Diseases

THE value of the antihistaminic drugs in the treatment and prevention of the common cold and undifferentiated respiratory diseases has been investigated as follows: by observation of the effect of the drugs in naturally occurring respiratory infections; and by determination of the influence of the drugs on the occurrence and subsequent course of common colds developing after the experimental inoculation of normal volunteers. In neither type of study have the drugs proved to be effective. The procedures employed and the results obtained in the two studies are presented below under separate headings.Use of Antihistaminic Drugs in Naturally Occurring Respiratory . . .