此内容暂无简体中文译文，以下为英文原文。
Historical health column by P. M. Vigneri, printed credential O.D. This reproduces December 1980 medical discussion, not current medical advice.
Is your throat sore? Do all of your muscles seem to ache? Don’t have any energy?
These basic symptoms with any combination of runny noses, coughs and swollen glands (lymph nodes), give a picture of the grand opening of cold and flu season.
As we have been seeing a great deal of such sufferers, People’s Clinic would like to share some info with you.
Most people are aware that “colds”, whether slight or serious, are overwhelmingly viral ailments. Viruses are little more than particles of active DNA, and as such are much smaller than bacteria and do not respond to antibiotics or any medication readily available at a doctor’s office.
So we have to content ourselves with treating symptoms, such as prescribing a decongestant for the sniffles, cough medicines and aspirin for the dwindles, etc.
We frequently hear that in prior “colds” a good “shot of penicillin knocked it right out of me”.
If the illness is truly viral, this association is doubtful; that is, the cold neared the end of its course at the same time you coincidentally got the penicillin.
However, there is a substantial grey area where bacteria (those little germs that antibiotics work against) are involved even if a full blown bacterial infection is not apparent. You may have a secondary infection of the throat, ears or bronchi, which is usually less severe. There is the socalled atypical pneumonia that is not uncommon in young adults, which also benefits from antibiotics.
So with a productive cough (i.e. you can cough up phlegm), ear pain, temperature greater than 101° (use a thermometer!), or a sore throat that lasts for more than 2-3 days, you probably should be looked over. Antibiotics may be needed.
Finally, a word on Vitamin C.
It has been 10 years since Linus Pauling dropped his bombshell about megadose Vitamin C treatment, and since then, despite several large studies, no one has demonstrated significant benefits.
On the true-believer side it can be noted that these studies did not use megadose therapy (most used was 500-1000 mg./day), whereas Pauling advocates greater than 6 grams/day based on the daily amount of Vitamin C that a cat makes for itself.
On the skeptical side it can be said that if real and meaningful benefits are to be gained, they should not be so elusive. After all, 6 grams of Vitamin C a day during cold season isn’t cheap, all for reducing a cold by a day or two.
We will conclude by saying that, if you’re a true believer, be prepared to break the 1000 mg. barrier many times over while we await the final word. Until then Ah-Choo!
Originally published in The Paper, December 1980.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1980_12.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
