 |
The
Greek and Roman literature described phthisis, a common malady in poor and
overcrowded areas leading to much morbidity and mortality. In 1837, phtisis was renamed
Tuberculosis (TB), later also known as Koch’s disease. The cause of the
disease remained long unknown, making effective treatment impossible. Villemin
described TB as infectious in 1865, and in 1882 Koch found the source of TB,
the M. (Mycobacterium) Tuberculosis. R/ plans followed, based on a subdivision into
open (infectious/ smear positive) and closed (non-infectious/ smear
negative) tuberculosis. |
