BOTULISM AND HOME CANNING 13 



2. The soil of the Western States, inclusive of the Great Plains, yields, 

 mainly CI. botuliniim, Type A, while the Mississippi and Great Lakes 

 region is characterized by a striking predominance of Type B. Similarly 

 prevalent is this latter type in the Atlantic States of Maryland, Delaware, 

 New Jersey, Georgia, and South Carolina, while scattered findings of Type 

 A in Maine, New York and Pennsylvania indicate the existence of breed- 

 ing places in virgin forests and mountains. Soils which are subjected to 

 intensive cultivation and fertilization contain, as a rule, CI. hotulinum, 

 type B. 



3. CI. botulinum spores are far more prevalent in virgin and pasture 

 soils than in dirt, soil or manure collected from animal corrals, pig pens, 

 etc. Vegetables, fruits and feeds are frequently contaminated with the 

 spores of this organism. String bean pods and leaves, moldy hay, ensilage 

 and decayed vegetation may yield a relatively high percentage of positive 

 cultures. 



4. Human and animal botulism is not infrequent in those states in 

 which CI. botulinum, Type A, predominates, or in which the percentage 

 figures of positive cultures exceeds 20 to 30 percent. From a practical 

 standpoint, however, the organism is ubiquitous, and this survey gives no 

 assurance that heat resistant spores cannot be found anywhere and at 

 any time. 



For an earlier soil survey, in California, Burke (1919) concluded that CI. 

 botulinum was widely distributed in nature. It is present in gardens and may be 

 on fruit or vegetables when they are picked; it is not necessarily associated with 

 active decay, but ma^' be present in the blemishes or spots on the skin of ap- 

 parently sound fruits and vegetables. 



On the basis of a soil survey largely within the state of Illinois, Tanner and 

 Dack (1922) concluded that CI. botulinum is probably a common soil saprophyte 

 widespread in nature. 



The reported outbreaks of botulism from home-canned foods tend to follow 

 the same geographical pattern as indicated by studies on the distribution of 

 CI. botulinum in soils. In Figure 1 the approximate geographical location of 

 the botulism outbreaks described In Table 1 are indicated. This figure, while it 

 shows the reported Incidence of botulism to be confined to certain geographical 

 areas, also indicates that the causative organism might well be expected to be 

 found in other states, too. The number of botulism outbreaks from home-canned 

 foods according to states is summarized in Table 3. 



Table 3. — Number of 0utbre.\ks of Botulism From Home-Canned • 

 Foods, According to States. 



