Modern Methods of Diagnosis in Pulmonary Tuberculosis

If diagnosis means the identification of the disease from which the patient suffers it is only necessary to find tubercle bacilli to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis. But it can also be defined as forming an appreciation of the patient, in the same sense as the commander of an army appreciates the military situation. It is then necessary to find out not only the identity of the infecting organism but also as much as possible about the pulmonary lesions and the qualities and environment of the patient. To identify pulmonary tuberculosis is relatively simple, but to appreciate the patient's condition is difficult; and it is with modern methods of doing it that this article is concerned.