Newer Knowledge on Botulism and Mussel Poisoning

Abstract

The paper gives a summary of botulism and of mussel poisoning. A tabulation of cases of botulism in the U. S. A., 1899-1930, shows 191 outbreaks on record. Of this number, 129 were caused by home-preserved food, 43 by commercially-preserved products, while in 19 instances the causative foodstuff was not classified. 70 of these outbreaks were proved bacteriologically. Of the foods held responsible for these outbreaks, string beans were involved in 50 instances, corn in 22, olives in 14, spinach in 12, asparagus in 9, and smaller numbers for miscellaneous vegetable and a few meat products. The summary of mussel poisoning, as seen on the Pacific Coast, shows that mussels are more apt to become highly toxic during July and August. Factors leading to this toxic condition are obscure. Attempts to produce experimentally poisonous mussels have thus far failed.