GC: n

S: DORLAND p. 242; PPID p. 3097.

N: 1. 1878, from German Botulismus (1878), coined in German from Latin botulus “sausage” (see bowel) + -ismus suffix of action or state (see -ism). Sickness first traced to eating tainted sausage (sausage poisoning was an old name for it).
2. L. botulus, sausage.
3. There are three main forms of botulism: foodborne botulism, wound botulism and infant botulism. This disease does not spread from one person to another.
4. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list this disease as a potential biological weapon (Category A) used by terrorists.
5. Cultural Interrelation: Polar poisons: did Botulism doom the Franklin expedition? (2003) by Horowitz BZ.

S: 1. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=botulism&searchmode=none (last access: 3 September 2014). 2. DORLAND p. 242. 3 & 4. TERMIUMPLUS. 5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14677794 (last access: 2 April 2015).

SYN:
S:

CR: bioterrorism, botulinum toxin.