The ancient Greeks and Romans knew - but it was much rarer.
The 'father of medicine', Hipocrates used garlic vapors to treat cervical cancer. Garlic poultices were placed on wounds during World War I and II, (called Russian Penicillin,) as an inexpensive - yet highly effective, replacement for antibiotics, which were scarce during wartime.
I recall reading that around the time of our Civil War, an indication that a surgeon was "experienced" was a proudly worn blood-encrusted smock...the theories of sanitation hadn't quite evolved, I guess.