noun
- Plural of phthisis; instances or cases of tuberculosis, especially pulmonary tuberculosis.
Usage: medical; archaic or formal
Examples
- In the 19th century, phthises were among the leading causes of death in urban populations.
- The physician documented several cases of phthises in his clinical notes.
- Sanatorium treatment was a common approach for managing phthises before modern antibiotics.
- The prevalence of phthises declined significantly after the discovery of effective medications.