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 presents several stages of infiltration with a gelatinous substance. The recent deposits have a yellow-white cheesy texture and after aging they become grey-purple. There is also a large abscess at the top of the lung. 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.