---
title: 'S1E16: Ep 16 Tuberculosis | TB Downunder'
type: 'episode'
url: 'https://doc.social/episodes/s1e16-ep-16-tuberculosis-tb-downunder'
show: 'This Pathological Life'
show_url: 'https://doc.social/podcasts/this-pathological-life'
published: '2020-10-26'
audio: 'unavailable — the host retired the file'
---

# S1E16: Ep 16 Tuberculosis | TB Downunder

Tuberculosis has had many names throughout human history: Phthisis, Robber of youth, the white plague, consumption. It wasn’t until 1865 that Jean Antonine Villemin proved it was an infectious disease and 1882 that Robert Koch identified th…

## Summary

Tuberculosis has had many names throughout human history: Phthisis, Robber of youth, the white plague, consumption.

It wasn’t until 1865 that Jean Antonine Villemin proved it was an infectious disease and 1882 that Robert Koch identified the causative agent: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (he called it Tubercle bacillus).

Via the first ever Pathology Report from Melbourne Hospital (now Royal Melbourne Hospital), we explore this infectious disease that continues to have a devastating impact to this day.

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