History of Tubercolosis: a Century after the Discoveries of Koch and Forlanini

Abstract

                                                                                                              A century after the discovery of the etiological agent of the tubercolosis, the Author remembers the steps of study of the disease.  Fracastoro supposed the existence of small bodies, epidemiological studies pointed attention on the transmissibility until 1882, when Koch communicated the Physiological Society of Berlin that bacteria had been evidenced in biological material of lung from tubercolosis patients. The method of coloration of Koch rapidly spreaded, but no therapy was found. In the same 1882 Forlanini proposed the artificial pneumotorax as cure.            Key words: Tubercolosis history - Koch - Forlanini