---
title: The Persuasive Power of the Patient with a Cold - Ogden Nash Shows us the Source
description: Antibiotics for a cold. Ogden Nash shows us the source of the patients persuasive powers in this common doctor-patient conflict
image: https://www.thehappymd.com/hubfs/36817781_s.jpg
---

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# [The Persuasive Power of the Patient with a Cold - Ogden Nash Shows us the Source](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/the-persuasive-power-of-the-patient-with-a-cold-ogden-nash)

Posted by [Dike Drummond MD](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/author/dike-drummond-md)

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## [![antibiotics-for-a-cold-ogden-nash-persuasion-Opt-150](https://www.thehappymd.com/hs-fs/hubfs/antibiotics-for-a-cold-ogden-nash-persuasion-Opt-150.jpg?width=150&name=antibiotics-for-a-cold-ogden-nash-persuasion-Opt-150.jpg)](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/the-whirlwind-of-the-practice-of-medicine-seven-ways-to-step-out)Forceful patient requests for antibiotics in an obvious viral URI are some of the most difficult conversations for any doctor to handle.

- On one side - the patient is miserable
- On the other side - the diagnosis is simple and quick and the treatment is crystal clear

**Yet, in many cases, we physicians can be persuaded to prescribe against our better judgement. **

- Where does this common patient-doctor conflict originate?
- Who can shed light on the awesome persuasive power supplied to our patients by a simple rhinovirus?

**I nominate Ogden Nash. **

Read his poem below and remember your last doozy of a head cold. I nominate these sentiments, rarely spoken in the course of your office visit, as the source of the arm twisting power of your sniffling, suffering [patient's argument for antibiotics](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/bid/290777/antibiotics-for-a-virus-how-to-just-say-no).

**Enjoy ... **

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## **"Common Cold" **by [Ogden Nash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogden_Nash)

> [![ogden-nash-common-cold-antibiotics-240W](https://www.thehappymd.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/2019%20IMAGES/2019%20BLOG%20IMAGES/ogden-nash-common-cold-antibiotics-240W.jpg?width=240&name=ogden-nash-common-cold-antibiotics-240W.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogden_Nash)Go hang yourself, you old M.D.!  
> You shall not sneer at me.  
> Pick up your hat and stethoscope,  
> Go wash your mouth with laundry soap;  
> I contemplate a joy exquisite  
> I'm not paying you for your visit.  
> *I did not call you to be told*  
> *My malady is a common cold.*
> 
> By pounding brow and swollen lip;  
> By fever's hot and scaly grip;  
> By those two red redundant eyes  
> That weep like woeful April skies;  
> By racking snuffle, snort, and sniff;  
> By handkerchief after handkerchief;  
> This cold you wave away as naught  
> Is the damnedest cold man ever caught!
> 
> Give ear, you scientific fossil!  
> Here is the genuine Cold Colossal;  
> The Cold of which researchers dream,  
> The Perfect Cold, the Cold Supreme.  
> This honored system humbly holds  
> The Super-cold to end all colds;  
> The Cold Crusading for Democracy;  
> The Führer of the Streptococcracy.
> 
> Bacilli swarm within my portals  
> Such as were ne'er conceived by mortals,  
> But bred by scientists wise and hoary  
> In some Olympic laboratory;  
> Bacteria as large as mice,  
> With feet of fire and heads of ice  
> Who never interrupt for slumber  
> Their stamping elephantine rumba.
> 
> A common cold, gadzooks, forsooth!  
> Ah, yes. And Lincoln was jostled by Booth;  
> Don Juan was a budding gallant,  
> And Shakespeare's plays show signs of talent;  
> The Arctic winter is fairly coolish,  
> And your diagnosis is fairly foolish.  
> *Oh what a derision history holds*  
> *For the man who belittled the Cold of Colds!*

============

## **PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT**

- How does this first person diatribe help you understand talking to patients about conservative treatment of the "common" cold?
- What is one of your favorite "medical poems"?
- What is your favorite Ogden Nash poem?

 

 

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