The Forgotten Plague (S27E05)

As the 19th century began, tuberculosis emerged as the deadliest disease in human history, claiming the lives of one in seven individuals who had ever lived. During the 1800s, this illness swept through America with relentless force, devastating entire communities and affecting nearly every family. The struggle against this lethal bacteria left a significant mark on the nation, influencing medical research, social norms, economic growth, westward expansion, and government policies. Despite its profound effects, both the disease and its consequences remain largely overlooked; as one writer aptly described it, tuberculosis is our "forgotten plague."