Consumption in The 19th Century
In the 19th century, consumption was a common word for tuberculosis. At the time consumptive patients were turned away from other hospitals as there was no known cure. Hospitals that dealt with such infectious diseases later came to be known as sanatoriums. The prospectus for the Hospital stated that for the last 6 months of 1837 out of 148,701 deaths from all causes, 27,754 were from consumption.
Read more about this topic: Royal Brompton Hospital
Famous quotes containing the words consumption and/or century:
“There is held to be no surer test of civilisation than the increase per head of the consumption of alcohol and tobacco. Yet alcohol and tobacco are recognisable poisons, so that their consumption has only to be carried far enough to destroy civilisation altogether.”
—Havelock Ellis (1859–1939)
““Darling,
will you come home today
after a few hours,
or at noon,
or a little later,
or when the whole day’s passed?”
A young wife
with tearful words stuck in her throat
spoils the departure of her man
who wishes to go to a land
that takes a hundred days
to reach.”
—Amaru (c. seventh century A.D.)