Phthisiology

Phisiology is a specialty of medicine that studies tuberculosis in all its aspects. It existed as an independent activity until the middle of the 20th century when it formed one of the roots of pulmonology.

The term "consumption" comes from the Greek "phthisis" which is the classic name for tuberculosis. As such, it is an old term and was used to encompass tuberculosis or other lung diseases such as silicosis, pneumoconiosis, calcicosis and anthracosis.