How was tuberculosis romanticized?

Before the advent of antibiotics, its victims slowly wasted away, becoming pale and thin before finally dying of what was then known as consumption. The Victorians romanticized the disease and the effects it caused in the gradual build to death. For decades, many beauty standards emulated or highlighted these effects.

When was tuberculosis romanticized?

The idea of tuberculosis being depicted as a romanticized illness in 19th century fine art reflects an idea that was further perpetuated by highly esteemed literary figures of the period.

Did people know consumption was contagious?

In 1869, Jean Antoine Villemin demonstrated that the disease was indeed contagious, conducting an experiment in which tuberculous matter from human cadavers was injected into laboratory rabbits, which then became infected. On 24 March 1882, Robert Koch revealed the disease was caused by an infectious agent.

What caused consumption?

Tuberculosis, also known as consumption, is a disease caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs, and at the turn of the 20th century, the leading cause of death in the United States.

Is tuberculosis considered beautiful?

Later, for a period of about 80 years in the 18th and 19th centuries, the effects of tuberculosis (also called consumption) were considered attractive and inextricably tied to fashion.

How long did Doc Holliday have TB?

Compounded with terror of contagion, the consumptive becomes something of a pariah—a ‘lunger’ despised in and for his infirmity.” As has been reported, Holliday was physically impaired by his consumption disease throughout his 14 years as a professional gambler on the Western Frontier.

Why is tuberculosis called a wasting disease?

A cardinal feature of tuberculosis patients is marked wasting at time of disease diagnosis [1-3]. Wasting associated with tuberculosis is likely caused by a combination of decreased appetite and altered metabolism resulting from inflammatory and immune responses [4-6].