Tuberculosis. Another History of German Society

Pulmonary tuberculosis, or consumption, has been a companion of humanity throughout its history. Up until the 20th century, consumption meant a death sentence, sparing neither the poor nor the rich, the unknown nor the famous. However, society's attitude towards this disease has constantly changed. In Ulrike Moser's book, the tragic stages of these changes are showcased: consumption, once seen as a "noble" disease affecting geniuses and angelic girls, transforms into a source of profit for mountain resorts and then becomes a malignant sore of the urban lower classes. In the Third Reich, Nazi postulates about degeneration and racial purity stripped tuberculosis patients of all hope: they were mass murdered or subjected to brutal medical experiments. Despite the discovery of antibiotics, tuberculosis remains one of the most common causes of death today - and it is important to remember this even amidst more "pressing" epidemics. Ulrike Moser is a German historian and a contributor to the publications "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" and "Die Woche".