364 AGEICULTUEAL AND INDUSTRIAL BACTEEIOLOGY 



Pathogenesis. — This organism together with the Clostri- 

 dium oedematis, Clostridium GJion-Sachs and the Clos- 

 tridium sporogenes and others may be present in soils, par- 

 ticularly cultivated and manured soils, whence they may 

 gain access to wounds. In man these organisms are of 

 special significance, because of their influence on war 

 wounds, particularly "dirty wounds." Some species 

 spread rapidly through the tissues, destroying them as they 

 develop, causing hemorrhage, but not producing gas ; others, 

 as the Clostridium welchii, cause hemorrhages and produce 

 an abundance of gas as well. 



Immunity. — Certain of these species produce a specific 

 toxin for which antitoxin may be prepared. Practicable 

 methods of immunization have not yet been worked out, 

 however. This is particularly difficult as bacteriological 

 study including microscopic examination is necessary before 

 one can know what particular species is causing edema in 

 the particular individual and in consequence what serum 

 should be used. 



Diseases of this same general type have repeatedly been 

 observed among animals, particularly sheep and swine. 



Clostridium Botulinum 



Synonym. — Bacillus hotulinus. 



This organism is one of the frequent causes of meat and 

 food poisoning in man. The disease is generally termed 

 botulism from the Latin hotulus meaning sausage. The 

 organism was first isolated by Van Brmengen in 1896 from 

 meat which he believed to be the cause of an outbreak 

 of food poisoning. Poisoning caused by this organism 

 should not be confused with that caused by Bacterium 

 enteritidis or with the so-called ptomaine poisoning. 



Distribution. — Outbreaks of poisoning of the type of 

 botulism have been repeatedly reported from Europe, par- 



