BOTULISM 71 



prepared in the usual way by Kempner. Without serum treatment death occurs in 

 about 40% of cases and takes place between twenty-four and forj^eight hours. 



The bacillus has been isolated from sausage and ham. It is a large bacillus 

 5 to io/iX ij". It is slightly motile and stains by Gram. It produces gas in glucose 



Fig. 21. Bacillus of botulism, (Kolle and Wassermann.} 



FIG. 22. Symptomatic anthrax (Rauschbrand) bacilli showing spores. (Kolle 



and Wassermann.) 



media. It grows best at 22 and only slightly at 37 hence it is dangerous only 

 irom its soluble toxin, the bacilli not developing to any extent in the body. 



For this reason botulism patients are not a source of danger, it is the infected 

 meat alone which causes the disease. On the contrary where the meat poisoning 

 is due to the Gartner or paratyphoid group infection may take place from the patient's 

 discharges. 



