1200: John Gaddesden describes asthma prognosis

John Gaddesden (1280-1361) was perhaps the most popular of the Medieval physicians.  He was an Englishman who obtained his medical education at the university at Montpelier in France sometime around 1200 A.D.  John Forbes said the he gave us our most accurate description of the prognosis of asthma when he said: (1, page 111)(2, page 196)

Et primo sciendum est, asthma in senibus non recipere curationem, nee in alia eetate nisi difficulter, maxime si sit antiquum. (2, page 196)

While we have to question the accuracy here, I allowed these words to be translated by Google Translate.

In the first place it must be known, not to receive the treatment of asthma in the elderly, nor in any other age except a very difficult task, especially if it is old. 

Bradford said he became the first Englishman to become physician in ordinary to the king, was professor at Merten College, and wrote a book called "Rosa Anglica" that, as noted by Bradford, "professed to embrace the whole practice of medicine; this was taken mostly from the Arabians, but with some original additions." (1, page 111)

While he probably used many ancient Greek and Arabic herbal remedies in the treatment of disease, he also was known to use "mystical remedies" and "superstition," said Bradford.  (1, page 111)

References:

1. Bradford, Thomas Lindsley, writer, Robert Ray Roth, editor, “Quiz questions on the history of medicine from the lectures of Thomas Lindley Bradford M.D.,” 1898, Philadelphia, Hohn Joseph McVey
2. Forbes, John, "Encyclopedia of Practical Medicine," volume I, 1832, London, Paternoster-Row

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