"Based in part on the book Living in the shadow of death by Sheila Rothman."

"American experience is a production of WGBH."

Director of photography, Stephen McCarthy ; editor, Adam Zucker ; consultants, Sheila Rothman, Nancy Tomes ; music, Mark Suozzo.

Narrator, Michael Murphy ; commentators, Andrea Barrett, Andrea Cooper, Joanne Curtis, Sherwood Davies, Mary Hotaling, Sheila Rothman, Whitney Seymour, Jr., John Stoeckle, Nancy Tomes, Sherwood Davies.

Originally produced as an episode of the television series: American experience.

By the dawn of the nineteenth century, tuberculosis had killed one in seven of all the people who had ever lived. The disease struck America with a vengeance, ravaging communities and touching the lives of almost every family. The battle against the deadly bacteria had a profound and lasting impact on the country, It shaped medical and scientific pursuits, social habits, economic development, western expansion, and government policy. The story is told through the remembrances of those who lived - and were cured - at tuberculosis sanatoriums, along with historians and scientists.

By the dawn of the nineteenth century, the most deadly killer in human history, tuberculosis, had killed one in seven of all the people who had ever lived. Told through the remembrances of those who lived-and were cured-at tuberculosis sanatoriums, along with historians and scientists, this is a powerful reminder of the centuries when American families lived under the constant shadow of a terrible death.

Not rated.

DVD; Region 1, NTSC; widescreen presentation; 5.1 surround.

In English with optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH).