Group Discussion: “Cold Comfort”

My class group and I had the opportunity to study and analyze Atul Gawande’s essay, “Cold Comfort,” and discuss it with our class. Gwande’s essay discussed the curious nature of the common cold. It explained how the common cold has intrigued scientist for years; everyone gets the common cold, but scientist are still not 100% clear on how it is transferred and how to cure it. Our group, which consisted of four group members, decided to read the article and address the issues brought up in the essay by each of us focusing on a section, and discussing it with the class.


The Cold Comfort essay included five experiments, scattered throughout different time periods that tested society’s different notions on how we think the common cold is contracted. The essay also includes a section on how the common cold affects our body, and the ways we try to cure the cold that still leave us with unsure results. One group member decided to introduce the article to the class by first asking anyone to perform a variation of a kissing experiment performed in the article. This particular experiment tested the notion if the cold is spread through kissing. Each class member was asked to kiss their hand for 60 seconds, after that min had passed the experiment was explained to the class and the group member began to introduce the article and explain how the common cold affects the body. Another group member and I analyzed the different experiments in the article, and our last group member decided to conclude what we all had discovered.

Our group took turns asking the class certain questions about the common cold and the article to provoke a class discussion. We asked such questions as, how do you think we catch the common cold? What did you find interesting about the experiments that were conducted to understand the common cold? And do you believe pharmaceutical companies honestly want to find a cure of the common cold? These questions, along with a few others, provoked a very interesting discussion on the common cold, and after reading this article it is clear to see that the common cold still remains a mystery. One day we might fully understand its curious nature, but for now all we can do is try to take better care of ourselves to decrease our chances of catching it.