A constitutional disease, generally hereditary,
   especially manifested by chronic enlargement and cheesy degeneration of
   the lymphatic glands, particularly those of the neck, and marked by a
   tendency to the development of chronic intractable inflammations of the
   skin, mucous membrane, bones, joints, and other parts, and by a
   diminution in the power of resistance to disease or injury and the
   capacity for recovery. Scrofula is now generally held to be tuberculous
   in character, and may develop into general or local tuberculosis
   (consumption).