Botulism is an illness produced by a toxin that is released by the soil bacterium Clostridium botulinum. One type of toxin is also produced by Clostridium baratii. The toxins affect nerves and can produce paralysis. The paralysis can affect the functioning of organs and tissues that are vital to life.

There are three main kinds of botulism. The first is conveyed by food containing the botulism toxin. Contaminated food can produce the illness after being ingested. Growth of the bacteria in the food may occur, but is not necessary for botulism. Just the presence of the toxin is sufficient. Thus, this form of botulism is a food intoxication (as compared with food poisoning, where bacterial growth is necessary). The second way that botulism can be produced is via infection of an open wound with Clostridium botulinum. Growth of the bacteria in the wound leads to the production of...