Abstract
In a study of sixteen strains of Bacillus botulinus, which have been isolated in connection with outbreaks of food and forage poisoning occurring in different parts of the United States during the past five years, a number of interesting facts have been observed. While a complete report of the findings will be published elsewhere, it seems justifiable to record at this time some of the salient facts; namely:
I. Contrary to the general view that the optimum temperature for growth of B. botulinus is about 22° C., we have found that the body temperature 37° C., is most favorable for the growth and spore production of all of the sixteen strains of B. botulinus studied. Toxin is readily formed at this temperature.
2. At autopsy of guinea pigs which have been either fed or injected with cultures of B. botulinus it has been possible to recover this organism quite frequently from the liver and spleen and also occasionally from the heart's blood, the kidneys and the pancreas.
3. Contrary to the results obtained by previous investigators, guinea pigs, which have been fed or injected with toxin-free spores of B. botulinus, Nevin strain, have died with symptoms resembling those of botulinus poisoning. At autopsy of these animals B. botulinus was recovered from the liver and spleen.
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