Medicine: Incomplete Evidence

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Drug manufacturers were making feverish claims that anti-histaminics (anti-allergy drugs) would cure the common cold, and they were selling their new medicines by the carload. But last week the American Medical Association, through its Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry, announced sternly that it "is not convinced that [present evidence] is sufficient to warrant the positive statements that are being made."

Besides, said the council, many of those who take these drugs "become drowsy or even fall asleep while at work or ... driving cars or operating machinery. Experience with these drugs is not yet long enough to know whether or not they are harmless when used over long periods of time. Furthermore, the amounts taken in persistent colds may be definitely beyond what has been established as safe." As a guardian of the public's welfare, the council promised to look further into the controversial matter.