Monocular Microscope used at the Common Cold Research Unit in England, 1946-1960
The Common Cold Research Unit (CCRU) operated from 1946 to 1989 at the Harvard Hospital, at Harnham Down near Salisbury in Wiltshire. It aimed to research the common cold and reduce the human and economic cost of the illness. This microscope examined tissue cultures in the CCRU laboratory. The Unit initially tried to identify each cold virus, the epidemiology and how colds are transmitted. Trials took place every two weeks throughout the year and involved 30 volunteers being isolated for ten days. Most volunteers received the virus during a trial, with the symptoms of each volunteer recorded daily. Over 200 viral serotypes can cause the common cold. By 1959, many viruses which caused colds were cultivated and recognised in tissue cultures developed at the Unit. The microscope is shown with test tubes (1990-84/22), which were also used in the tissue culture process.
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Glossary: monocular microscope
Microscope with a single viewing eyepiece, as distinct from binocular or stereomicroscopes. It should be noted that monocular microscopes can be fitted with a binocular eyepiece to give pseudo-stereo views
Glossary: common cold
a widespread infectious virus disease causing inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and bronchial tubes. Symptoms include a sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, headache, cough, and general malaise.
Glossary: tissue culture