[Botulism after eating country smoked ham (author's transl)].

14 persons ate from a country smoked ham in which botulin was found. From this group, two had complaints which suggested a nonspecific food poisoning; two persons died. Of the dead, clinical symptoms of a botulinus intoxication could be ascertained from other people. In one case, botulinus toxin could be demonstrated in the blood, in the other the botulinus toxin was identified on forensic examination in suspensions of the preserved organ and body fluids, in spite of advanced putrefaction. Histological examination of the brain and of the cerebral and peripheral nerves provided no clear indication of the primary disease.