What do you believe are the strengths and shortcomings of ascribing medical explanations to long ago historical figures whom present-day doctors cannot directly diagnose?

In general terms, what do you believe are the strengths and shortcomings of ascribing medical explanations to long ago historical figures whom present-day doctors cannot directly diagnose? Do you believe with brilliant insight, it can be effective? Or is at best hit and miss? Or do you believe it to be completely flawed? Can for example, modern-day doctors accurately diagnose if the afflicted girls of Salem Village suffered from stress, epilepsy, ergot poisoning or delusional psychosis?