What are the symptoms of tuberculosis, did they have medicines in 1900s, and is it always fatal?

The prevention then was to have a BCG vaccine, which is now mandatory vaccine for infants. As for the medication like rifampicin were only developed much later. If your character did not die (the one with TB), he will be sent away to a camp where all infected people are and they will stay there till they die to prevent transmission of the illness. The exception are of course the rich or the nobles, where they have the best treatment and management of the sick patient.