How an epidemic was prevented: prophylaxis against tuberculosis in the first half of the 20th century in Portugal

Abstract

There is a consensus in health historiography that tuberculosis is the most lethal contemporary infectious disease. Much has been written about the currents of medical thought on tuberculosis along with the various treatments, including sanatorial, but preventive strategies have had less expression. This paper aims to analyze the most relevant prophylactic measures to combat tuberculosis in Portugal, undertaken by various institutions and personalities linked to the problem in the first half of the twentieth century.