Pathogenic Bacteria 341 



it unites with susceptible nerve tissue. The muscles of the jaw 

 involved in mastication are affected by the destructive action of the 

 poison on the nerves controlling these muscles. Hence, the popular 

 term lockjaw is used to indicate this clinical symptom of the 

 disease. 



Specific antitoxin is very effective in neutralizing the exotoxins 

 produced by Clostridium tetani if the toxins have not already 

 acted upon the nerve tissue. Tetanus toxoid proved highly effec- 

 tive in preventing tetanus during World War II, and this toxoid can 

 be combined with diphtheria toxoid to give "one shot" double 

 protection to young children as part of their immunization series. 

 Tetanus toxoid will stimulate production of measurable antitoxin 

 in the bloodstream within two weeks after administration, and the 

 active immunity lasts for about one year before a "booster" dose 

 is required to raise the antitoxin titer of the blood. 



CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM 



Rods 0.5-0.8 by 3.0-8.0 microns, in singles, pairs, and chains. 

 Motile. Oval spores located centrally or subterminally, but ter- 

 minal at matmation. Rods slightly swollen. Gram positive. 

 Optimum temperature for growth 20-30° C, but 28° C. best for 

 toxin production. Anaerobic. Habitat appears to be the soil. 

 Cause of botulism. 



The word botulism comes from the Latin and means sausage. 

 This food was the cause of some of the first recognized cases of 

 botulism in Europe, and the work of van Ermengem ( 1896 ) showed 

 that Clostridium hotulinum was the cause of this highly fatal 

 disease. Certain foods that are improperly processed and are stored 

 in sealed containers under anaerobic conditions are the usual source 

 of botulinus poisoning. This is the most powerful biological poison 

 known to man, and because of certain characteristics of the toxin, 

 it has been suggested as a possible weapon in biological warfare. 

 Poisoning of water supplies is probably feasible, and while the 

 toxin may not live up to all the fantastic claims put forth in popular 

 magazine articles pertaining to biological warfare, botulinus toxin 

 has definite wartime possibilities. 



