Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Definition: \Phthi"sis\, n. [L., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to pass or waste
away: cf. F. phthisie.] (Med.)
A wasting or consumption of the tissues. The term was
formerly applied to many wasting diseases, but is now usually
restricted to pulmonary phthisis, or consumption. See
{Consumption}.

{Fibroid phthisis}. See under {Fibroid}.

I think Webster 1913 may have been behind the times in
saying "consumption" for tuberculosis, but I don't know
the date of the latter term.

Consumption:
Another name for Tuberculosis, commonly used before the 20th century. People who had consumption were referred to as consumptives.

Sorry, I guess that's as specific as it gets.

I did find these interesting "cures" for consumption here
http://www.harvestfields.netfirms.com/food/02/42.htm

And for all you white wine drinkers, another good reason to keep on drinking...it helps you breathe better!

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s559468.htm

Looks like I shall have to double my intake to drink white wine as well as red!

The corresponding verb in Greek is phthino 'to annihilate, destroy', Skt kshinati, from *gwhðei(@)- 'to pass away, vanish; destroy'; much discussed in Calvert Watkins How to Kill a Dragon: Aspects of Indo-European Poetics.

> much discussed in Calvert Watkins How to Kill a Dragon: Aspects of Indo-European Poetics.

Please tell me you're taking the pthisis with thisis!

All the way to the bank:

http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/exchange-glance/Y02Y6490727Y6738135/qid=1075835661/

Please tell me you're taking the pthisis with thisis!

Well, I meant the root that phthisis comes from. Watkins reconstructs a formulaic sentence / phrase from PIE: roughly "The hero destroys the dragon." It occupies about the last 1/3 of the book. It's really the best example of what IE philologists do, written in English, and easily accessible (in that you can find it in public libraries and bookstores).

Not in our library. Looks like I'm gone hafta buy it.