John Cosh
Encyclopedia
John Cosh was a British
rheumatologist. He is known for his long term studies of the effects of rheumatoid arthritis
, co-discovery of the genes associated with rheumatoid arthritis, and his work on the benefits of herbal medicines.
In 1973, with R K Jacoby and M I Jayson, he published an 11 year follow-up of 100 patients newly diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis and followed them for a further 30 years, showing that rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease impairing function for decades after onset. By 2004 eight of the sample were severely disabled with rheumatoid arthritis, three were less disabled, and only five had normal functioning. Of the 84 who died, median survival was reduced by 10 to 11 years, and the leading cause of death was heart disease
.
In 1986 he published, with other rheumatologists, a study that showed the association of rheumatoid arthritis with several human lymphocyte antigens; the associations were stronger in patients with more advanced disease.
John Cosh had originally wanted to be a heart surgeon, but his interests shifted towards cardiology and then to the cardiological aspects of rheumatology. He was born in Bristol
, the son of a pharmacist. From Bristol Grammar School
he won a scholarship to St John's College, Cambridge
, for his pre-clinical studies, and went to St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, London
, for his clinical training. He qualified in 1940 and became a house physician at Lambeth Hospital, a satellite hospital of St Thomas's. From there he went to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital
in Winchester
.
He was called up into the Royal Navy
Volunteer Reserve in 1942, serving on Arctic convoys to Murmansk
and Archangel
, was on the sidelines at the disastrous Dieppe landing, and took part in the landings in Italy
in 1943 and 1944. He was mentioned in dispatches in 1945.
After the second world war he went to Bristol to train in cardiology
and in 1948 was appointed registrar at Bristol Royal Infirmary
, noted for studies in rheumatic heart disease. From 1951 to 1957 he was lecturer in medicine at Bristol University
. During this time he published research on vibration sense, patent ductus arteriosus, paroxysmal nodal tachycardia, and primordial germ cells. Rheumatic fever was common at the time, and left many patients, most of them young, with damaged heart
s.
In the late 1950s his research interest, and publications, shifted towards rheumatic heart disease and to the long term aspects of rheumatoid arthritis. Altogether he published 51 papers, many of major importance. With John Lever, a pathologist, he edited Rheumatic Diseases and the Heart (Springer Verlag, 1988).
In 1957 he became consultant physician
for the Bath clinical area, practising cardiology at the Royal United Hospital and general medicine at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases. He felt he lacked expertise in rheumatic diseases and determined to teach himself. He attended ward rounds with the rheumatologist George Kersley, who appointed him, went to Hammersmith Hospital
every week to attend Eric Bywaters' ward rounds, and visited Manchester, which had the United Kingdom's only professorial rheumatology unit. In 1959 he was awarded the Royal College of Physicians' Heberden medal for his research in rheumatology. He retired in 1982.
John Cosh was a holistic doctor in the true sense of the word, endlessly interested in and concerned about his patients and their lives, spending a long time on his ward rounds. He radiated gentleness, intelligence, courtesy, and warmth. Perhaps because of his patients' interest in alternative and complementary medicine, he became a keen supporter of the use of herbal medicine and its appropriate place in orthodox medicine.
This interest led him to become a consultant medical adviser for a manufacturer of herbal medicines, Gerard House, later Bio-Health Ltd, from 1984 until 1996, when he was 80. In 1997 he produced a handbook for patients, Arthritis and Rheumatism: The Sufferers' Guide, published by Amberwood Press, Bio-Health's publishing division.
He also became medical adviser and trainer at the Bristol Cancer Care Centre when he retired from the NHS, having been a lifelong friend of Dr Alec Forbes, the centre's first medical adviser. He taught on their courses, and contributed to a satellite centre in Cheltenham.
He retired to Totnes
, to be near Dartington Hall
, where he could indulge his love of music
. Predeceased by his wife, Kate Jackson, he left two sons and a daughter.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rheumatologist. He is known for his long term studies of the effects of rheumatoid arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
, co-discovery of the genes associated with rheumatoid arthritis, and his work on the benefits of herbal medicines.
In 1973, with R K Jacoby and M I Jayson, he published an 11 year follow-up of 100 patients newly diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis and followed them for a further 30 years, showing that rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease impairing function for decades after onset. By 2004 eight of the sample were severely disabled with rheumatoid arthritis, three were less disabled, and only five had normal functioning. Of the 84 who died, median survival was reduced by 10 to 11 years, and the leading cause of death was heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
.
In 1986 he published, with other rheumatologists, a study that showed the association of rheumatoid arthritis with several human lymphocyte antigens; the associations were stronger in patients with more advanced disease.
John Cosh had originally wanted to be a heart surgeon, but his interests shifted towards cardiology and then to the cardiological aspects of rheumatology. He was born in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, the son of a pharmacist. From Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
he won a scholarship to St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, for his pre-clinical studies, and went to St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, for his clinical training. He qualified in 1940 and became a house physician at Lambeth Hospital, a satellite hospital of St Thomas's. From there he went to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital
Royal Hampshire County Hospital
The Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester is a District General Hospital serving much of central Hampshire. It is owned and run by the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust...
in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
.
He was called up into the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Volunteer Reserve in 1942, serving on Arctic convoys to Murmansk
Murmansk
Murmansk is a city and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It serves as a seaport and is located in the extreme northwest part of Russia, on the Kola Bay, from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from Russia's borders with Norway and Finland...
and Archangel
Archangel
An archangel is an angel of high rank. Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Michael and Gabriel are recognized as archangels in Judaism and by most Christians. Michael is the only archangel specifically named in the Protestant Bible...
, was on the sidelines at the disastrous Dieppe landing, and took part in the landings in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1943 and 1944. He was mentioned in dispatches in 1945.
After the second world war he went to Bristol to train in cardiology
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
and in 1948 was appointed registrar at Bristol Royal Infirmary
Bristol Royal Infirmary
The Bristol Royal Infirmary, also known as the BRI, is a large teaching hospital situated in the centre of Bristol, England. It has links with the medical faculty of the nearby University of Bristol, and the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of the West of England, also in...
, noted for studies in rheumatic heart disease. From 1951 to 1957 he was lecturer in medicine at Bristol University
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
. During this time he published research on vibration sense, patent ductus arteriosus, paroxysmal nodal tachycardia, and primordial germ cells. Rheumatic fever was common at the time, and left many patients, most of them young, with damaged heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
s.
In the late 1950s his research interest, and publications, shifted towards rheumatic heart disease and to the long term aspects of rheumatoid arthritis. Altogether he published 51 papers, many of major importance. With John Lever, a pathologist, he edited Rheumatic Diseases and the Heart (Springer Verlag, 1988).
In 1957 he became consultant physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
for the Bath clinical area, practising cardiology at the Royal United Hospital and general medicine at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases. He felt he lacked expertise in rheumatic diseases and determined to teach himself. He attended ward rounds with the rheumatologist George Kersley, who appointed him, went to Hammersmith Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital is a major teaching hospital in West London. It is part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and is associated with the Imperial College Faculty of Medicine...
every week to attend Eric Bywaters' ward rounds, and visited Manchester, which had the United Kingdom's only professorial rheumatology unit. In 1959 he was awarded the Royal College of Physicians' Heberden medal for his research in rheumatology. He retired in 1982.
John Cosh was a holistic doctor in the true sense of the word, endlessly interested in and concerned about his patients and their lives, spending a long time on his ward rounds. He radiated gentleness, intelligence, courtesy, and warmth. Perhaps because of his patients' interest in alternative and complementary medicine, he became a keen supporter of the use of herbal medicine and its appropriate place in orthodox medicine.
This interest led him to become a consultant medical adviser for a manufacturer of herbal medicines, Gerard House, later Bio-Health Ltd, from 1984 until 1996, when he was 80. In 1997 he produced a handbook for patients, Arthritis and Rheumatism: The Sufferers' Guide, published by Amberwood Press, Bio-Health's publishing division.
He also became medical adviser and trainer at the Bristol Cancer Care Centre when he retired from the NHS, having been a lifelong friend of Dr Alec Forbes, the centre's first medical adviser. He taught on their courses, and contributed to a satellite centre in Cheltenham.
He retired to Totnes
Totnes
Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
, to be near Dartington Hall
Dartington Hall
The Dartington Hall Trust, near Totnes, Devon, United Kingdom is a charity specialising in the arts, social justice and sustainability.The Trust currently runs 16 charitable programmes, including The Dartington International Summer School and Schumacher Environmental College...
, where he could indulge his love of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. Predeceased by his wife, Kate Jackson, he left two sons and a daughter.