# Curing the Common Cold?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curing-the-common-cold/837027>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 13, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curing-the-common-cold/837027 "2019-07-13T17:01:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curing-the-common-cold/837027/1 "2019-07-13T17:01:05Z")

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Is there any way to breed a rhinovirus in bulk, to the extent of creating a kilo or so of mass?

Are there any ideal salts or other treatments to cure the mass? Should it be smoked? Brined? With or without beer?

I presume that curing will destroy any dangers posed by the virus. Is this correct?

Any thoughts on what it will taste like?

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**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curing-the-common-cold/837027/2 "2019-07-13T17:13:05Z")

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Reported for forum change.

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**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curing-the-common-cold/837027/3 "2019-07-13T22:30:57Z")

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It’s a cooking question!

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curing-the-common-cold/837027/4 "2019-07-13T23:44:07Z")

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You want to **EAT** a protein shell stuffed with viral RNA???

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**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curing-the-common-cold/837027/5 "2019-07-13T23:50:50Z")

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That’s a really long walk for a pun.

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**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curing-the-common-cold/837027/6 "2019-07-14T00:34:04Z")

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> [@Sage\_Rat](#):
>
> It’s a cooking question!

My apologies.

OK, then. A virus is a strand of RNA surrounded by a protein shell. No cell structure. A large mass of them would be a very fine powder.

Therefore, it would taste like chicken bullion.

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**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curing-the-common-cold/837027/7 "2019-07-14T00:58:14Z")

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> [@mbh](#):
>
> My apologies.
> 
> OK, then. A virus is a strand of RNA surrounded by a protein shell. No cell structure. A large mass of them would be a very fine powder.
> 
> Therefore, it would taste like chicken bullion.

So I could make some cold ramen?

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**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curing-the-common-cold/837027/8 "2019-07-14T01:05:36Z")

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> [@mbh](#):
>
> Therefore, it would taste like chicken bullion.

Damn, it’s true. EVERYTHING tastes like chicken!

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curing-the-common-cold/837027/9 "2019-07-14T18:50:11Z")

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I suppose that if we can have a thread on [pan-fried semen](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=198659)…