[Sca-cooks] allergies

[Terry Decker]

Hippocrates is credited with the seminal description of asthma.  Galen 
described the symptoms and attributed the problem to bronchial obstructions 
caused by excessive phlegm in the lungs.  While Galen may not have known 
anything of allergens and allergies, he did treat allergy symptoms with 
sulpher. used squill (Scilla) for cough suppression, opoponax as a 
decongestant, and storax and oxymel as expectorants.

Bear

-----Original Message----- 

On Apr 16, 2014, at 8:54 PM, Stefan li Rous <stefanlirous at gmail.com> wrote:

>
> Stefan
> Any evidence of allergies in period? Or is this just a modern affliction? 
> Sigh.

Allergy comes into use in the early 20th century. Hayfever is also late.

Asthma dates to the 14th century.

1398   J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville (1495) vii. xxix. 244   Thre 
manere of Asmyes.
1578   H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball  776   The shortnesse of breath 
called asthma.

Johnnae