John of Gaddesden facts for kids

John of Gaddesden (born around 1280, died 1361) was a very important English doctor during the Middle Ages. He wrote a famous medical book called Rosa Medicinae, which means "The Rose of Medicine." It was also known as Rosa Anglica, or "The English Rose." This book, written between 1304 and 1317, is thought to be the first medical textbook from England.

John of Gaddesden was also a religious scholar, a member of Merton College, Oxford, and a doctor for the British royal family. He was one of the most respected medical experts of his time. His medical writings, along with those of Gilbertus Anglicus, were a key part of medical training for the next 400 years.

A Doctor's Journey: John of Gaddesden's Career

John of Gaddesden was born around 1280. He got his name from Gaddesden, a place near Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. There's an old house in Little Gaddesden that people say was his home. He studied at Merton College and became a doctor of medicine at Oxford University. He started studying medicine around 1299 and soon became a very busy doctor in London.

Treating Royalty

John of Gaddesden even treated a son of King Edward I. This was probably Thomas of Brotherton, who had smallpox.

The Famous Rosa Medicinae

Between 1305 and 1307, John of Gaddesden wrote his important medical book, Rosa Medicinae. He chose this name because, like a rose has five petals (or sepals), his book had five main parts. He also said that just as the rose is the best flower, his book was the best guide to practicing medicine. The idea for the title might have come from another book called Lilium Medicinae, written in 1303.

What Was in the Book?

Gaddesden's book, often called Rosa Anglica, was full of quotes from many famous doctors and thinkers of the past. These included Galen, Avicenna, and Al Rhazis. But the book also had many of Gaddesden's own ideas and observations.

The book started by explaining fevers. Then it covered different diseases and injuries, starting from the head and moving down the body. It ended with a section on remedies and treatments. The Rosa Medicinae also included tips on cooking and many prescriptions. Some of these remedies might seem strange today, but others were quite sensible for the time.

John of Gaddesden was known for being careful about his earnings. He even boasted about getting a lot of money from the Barber surgeons' guild for a special medicine. One of its main ingredients was tree frogs!

A Character in Literature?

John of Gaddesden's personality and his love for reading were very similar to the "Doctour of Phisik" (Doctor of Medicine) character in Geoffrey Chaucer's famous book, The Canterbury Tales. It's possible that Chaucer based his character on Gaddesden, who was alive at the same time.

Publishing and Later Life

Many copies of the Rosa Medicinae were made by hand. It was first printed in 1492, then again in 1502, 1517, and for the last time in 1595. It was even translated into the Irish language.

John of Gaddesden was also a priest. He was given a special position at St Paul's Cathedral in London on August 1, 1342. He passed away in 1361.