Illustration of the superior lobe of the right lung infected with tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that usually affects the lungs but can affect other body tissues. It causes inflammation and scarring in the lungs, leading to tissue damage. Here, the lung's blue-grey colour is indicative of pneumonia. It also contains nodular lesions (yellow, grey) and a large cavity at the top (circular, grey). Commonly called consumption in the 1800s, TB was a widespread cause of death during this period before the invention of vaccines (1921) and antibiotics (1943). Published in 'Illustrations of pulmonary consumption' by Samuel George Morton in 1834.