The_AT Deadly_JJ Dinner_NN1 party_NN1 &;_NULL Other_JJ Medical_JJ Detective_NN1 Stories_NN2 The_AT get-together_RL began_VVD as_II an_AT1 afterthought_NN1 ,_, recalls_VVZ Pam_NP1 Stogess_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 forty-three-year-old_JJ city_NN1 legislator_NN1 from_II Kingston_NP1 ,_, New_NP1 York_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 town_NN1 nestled_VVD between_II Catskill_NP1 State_NN1 Park_NN1 and_CC the_AT Hudson_NP1 River_NNL1 ._. 
"_" My_APPGE husband_NN1 ,_, my_APPGE daughter_NN1 ,_, and_CC I_PPIS1 were_VBDR planning_VVG to_TO go_VVI out_RP for_IF Mexican_JJ food_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 asked_VVD our_APPGE friend_NN1 Steve_NP1 Gelson_NP1 to_TO join_VVI us_PPIO2 ,_, but_CCB he_PPHS1 invited_VVD us_PPIO2 to_II his_APPGE house_NN1 to_TO eat_VVI ._. 
Steve_NP1 is_VBZ a_AT1 marvelous_JJ chef_NN1 and_CC had_VHD hosted_VVN a_AT1 party_NN1 the_AT night_NNT1 before_CS and_CC had_VHD plenty_PN of_IO food_NN1 left_VVD over_RP ._. 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, 'nothing_VVG formal_JJ ,_, do_VD0 n't_XX get_VVI dressed_VVN up_RP ,_, just_RR come_VV0 over_RP ._. '_" 
My_APPGE husband_NN1 and_CC daughter_NN1 were_VBDR set_VVN on_II Mexican_JJ ,_, but_CCB I_PPIS1 went_VVD to_II Steve_NP1 's_GE ._. 
It_PPH1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 totally_RR last-minute_JJ affair_NN1 ._. "_" 
Five_MC other_JJ guests_NN2 (_( the_AT names_NN2 of_IO all_DB persons_NN2 in_II this_DD1 story_NN1 have_VH0 been_VBN changed_VVN )_) attended_VVD the_AT dinner_NN1 party_NN1 on_II Sunday_NPD1 ,_, February_NPM1 19_MC ,_, 1989_MC :_: Miles_NP1 Walsh_NP1 ,_, Steve_NP1 's_GE business_NN1 partner_NN1 in_II an_AT1 ad_NN1 agency_NN1 ;_; Arthur_NP1 Landry_NP1 ,_, vice_JJ principal_NN1 of_IO the_AT local_JJ high_JJ school_NN1 ;_; his_APPGE wife_NN1 ,_, Barbara_NP1 Landry_NP1 ,_, co-owner_NN1 of_IO their_APPGE family_NN1 travel_NN1 agency_NN1 ;_; Janie_NP1 ,_, their_APPGE thirteen-year-old_JJ daughter_NN1 ;_; and_CC her_APPGE friend_NN1 Sara_NP1 ,_, also_RR thirteen_MC ._. 
The_AT meal_NN1 included_VVD a_AT1 homemade_JJ cheese_NN1 ball_NN1 ,_, salad_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 pasta_NN1 casserole_NN1 with_IW sausage_NN1 ,_, sweet-and-sour_JJ meatballs_NN2 ,_, garlic_NN1 bread_NN1 ,_, and_CC wine_NN1 ,_, followed_VVN by_II coffee_NN1 and_CC homemade_JJ fudge_NN1 cake_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 turned_VVD out_RP to_TO be_VBI a_AT1 memorable_JJ menu_NN1 in_II more_DAR ways_NN2 than_CSN one_PN1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 doctored_VVD up_RP the_AT leftover_JJ pasta_NN1 dish_NN1 and_CC made_VVD garlic_NN1 bread_NN1 out_II21 of_II22 pita_NN1 slices_NN2 ,_, "_" Gelson_NP1 recalls_VVZ ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 relaxing_JJ evening_NNT1 ;_; we_PPIS2 talked_VVD a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO politics_NN1 ._. 
Pam_NP1 and_CC I_PPIS1 are_VBR active_JJ local_JJ Republicans_NN2 ,_, and_CC Art_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 Democrat_NN1 ,_, had_VHD just_RR been_VBN told_VVN he_PPHS1 would_VM soon_RR be_VBI appointed_VVN to_II a_AT1 city_NN1 commission_NN1 ._. "_" 
"_" It_PPH1 was_VBDZ very_RG informal_JJ ,_, "_" says_VVZ Pam_NP1 ._. 
"_" Steve_NP1 arranged_VVD the_AT food_NN1 on_II the_AT kitchen_NN1 counter_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT adults_NN2 ate_VVD in_II there_RL ._. 
The_AT girls_NN2 took_VVD their_APPGE plates_NN2 into_II the_AT living_NN1 room_NN1 and_CC watched_VVD videos_NN2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 had_VHD a_AT1 grand_JJ time_NNT1 ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 school_NN1 night_NNT1 ,_, so_RR by_II 10_MC PM_NP1 ,_, we_PPIS2 finished_VVD our_APPGE coffee_NN1 and_CC the_AT party_NN1 was_VBDZ over_RP ._. "_" 
By_II Tuesday_NPD1 morning_NNT1 ,_, Pam_NP1 knew_VVD something_PN1 was_VBDZ wrong_JJ ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ working_VVG in_II the_AT kitchen_NN1 ;_; I_PPIS1 looked_VVD up_RP at_II something_PN1 ,_, and_CC my_APPGE eyes_NN2 would_VM n't_XX work_VVI right_RR ._. 
I_PPIS1 thought_VVD maybe_RR I_PPIS1 'd_VM put_VVI my_APPGE contact_NN1 lenses_NN2 in_II backwards_RL ,_, so_CS I_PPIS1 went_VVD into_II the_AT bathroom_NN1 ,_, cleaned_VVN and_CC checked_VVN them_PPHO2 ,_, and_CC put_VV0 them_PPHO2 back_RP on_II ._. 
But_CCB things_NN2 still_RR were_VBDR n't_XX right_JJ ;_; it_PPH1 was_VBDZ like_RR I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ looking_VVG at_II my_APPGE nose_NN1 cross-eyed_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 figured_VVD I_PPIS1 had_VHD the_AT flu_NN1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 phoned_VVD Steve_NP1 's_GE office_NN1 ,_, because_CS as_CSA trustees_NN2 of_IO the_AT Ulster_NP1 County_NN1 YWCA_NP1 ,_, we_PPIS2 had_VHD a_AT1 noon_NNT1 meeting_NN1 ._. 
His_APPGE secretary_NN1 told_VVD me_PPIO1 he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ home_RL sick_JJ ,_, and_CC when_CS I_PPIS1 called_VVD him_PPHO1 ,_, his_APPGE speech_NN1 was_VBDZ slurred_VVN ,_, and_CC he_PPHS1 complained_VVD of_IO nausea_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD he_PPHS1 would_VM n't_XX be_VBI coming_VVG to_II the_AT meeting_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 said_VVD that_CST I_PPIS1 'd_VM speak_VVI with_IW him_PPHO1 at_II dinner_NN1 time_NNT1 and_CC to_TO let_VVI me_PPIO1 know_VVI what_DDQ he_PPHS1 wanted_VVD and_CC that_CST I_PPIS1 'd_VM make_VVI it_PPH1 and_CC bring_VVI it_PPH1 over_RP to_II him_PPHO1 ._. 
"_" By_II that_DD1 evening_NNT1 &lsqb;_( Tuesday_NPD1 &rsqb;_) ,_, "_" Pam_NP1 continues_VVZ ,_, "_" my_APPGE eyes_NN2 were_VBDR worse_JJR and_CC my_APPGE speech_NN1 had_VHD also_RR become_VV0 slurred_JJ ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ having_VHG trouble_NN1 talking_VVG and_CC remember_VV0 having_VHG to_TO form_VVI the_AT words_NN2 to_TO get_VVI them_PPHO2 out_RP ._. 
I_PPIS1 called_VVD Steve_NP1 again_RT that_DD1 evening_NNT1 and_CC he_PPHS1 could_VM hardly_RR speak_VVI ._. 
Then_RT the_AT idea_NN1 occurred_VVD to_II me_PPIO1 that_CST Steve_NP1 and_CC I_PPIS1 had_VHD the_AT same_DA bug_NN1 ._. "_" 
Still_RR ,_, Pam_NP1 is_VBZ n't_XX the_AT panicky_JJ type_NN1 and_CC still_RR was_VBDZ n't_XX particularly_RR concerned_JJ about_II her_APPGE own_DA health_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 assumed_VVD that_CST she_PPHS1 probably_RR just_RR had_VHN a_AT1 virus_NN1 that_CST would_VM eventually_RR run_VVI its_APPGE course_NN1 ._. 
"_" Wednesday_NPD1 morning_NNT1 ,_, I_PPIS1 started_VVD to_TO drive_VVI to_TO do_VDI some_DD errands_NN2 ,_, but_CCB as_CSA I_PPIS1 pulled_VVD out_II21 of_II22 the_AT driveway_NN1 ,_, the_AT street_NN1 did_VDD n't_XX look_VVI wide_JJ enough_RR for_IF the_AT car_NN1 ,_, so_CS my_APPGE husband_NN1 drove_VVD me_PPIO1 ._. 
When_CS I_PPIS1 went_VVD to_TO sign_VVI a_AT1 check_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 could_VM n't_XX find_VVI the_AT right_JJ line_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ trying_VVG to_TO hold_VVI some_DD toothpicks_NN2 but_CCB kept_VVD dropping_VVG them_PPHO2 ._. 
It_PPH1 was_VBDZ odd_JJ ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ having_VHG perceptual_JJ problems_NN2 and_CC it_PPH1 gave_VVD me_PPIO1 a_AT1 whole_JJ new_JJ perspective_NN1 on_II how_RGQ handicapped_JJ people_NN must_VM have_VHI to_TO deal_VVI with_IW the_AT world_NN1 ._. "_" 
By_II Thursday_NPD1 morning_NNT1 ,_, Pam_NP1 felt_VVD so_RG feeble_JJ "_" that_CST it_PPH1 was_VBDZ all_DB I_PPIS1 could_VM do_VDI to_TO walk_VVI ,_, my_APPGE legs_NN2 were_VBDR so_RG weak_JJ ._. 
By_RT21 now_RT22 I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ getting_VVG nervous_JJ ,_, and_CC I_PPIS1 'm_VBM not_XX the_AT nervous_JJ type_NN1 ._. 
My_APPGE husband_NN1 and_CC I_PPIS1 own_VV0 a_AT1 funeral_NN1 home_RL ,_, and_CC the_AT prospect_NN1 of_IO death_NN1 does_VDZ n't_XX frighten_VVI me_PPIO1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 remember_VV0 telling_VVG my_APPGE husband_NN1 ,_, 'I_UH think_VV0 I_PPIS1 've_VH0 had_VHN a_AT1 stroke_NN1 ,_, '_GE "_" Pam_NP1 recalls_VVZ ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 felt_VVD intoxicated_JJ and_CC totally_RR out_II21 of_II22 touch_NN1 perceptually_RR ._. 
I_PPIS1 telephoned_VVD Steve_NP1 's_GE house_NN1 and_CC there_EX was_VBDZ no_AT answer_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 called_VVD his_APPGE secretary_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS told_VVD me_PPIO1 he_PPHS1 'd_VHD gone_VVN to_II Kingston_NP1 Hospital_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ when_RRQ I_PPIS1 thought_VVD ,_, 'My_JJ God_NP1 ,_, maybe_RR someone_PN1 else_RR has_VHZ it_PPH1 ._. '_" 
I_PPIS1 called_VVD Art_NP1 Landry_NP1 's_GE house_NN1 ._. 
"_" Janie_NP1 picked_VVD up_RP and_CC said_VVD her_APPGE dad_NN1 could_VM n't_XX come_VVI to_II the_AT phone_NN1 ;_; he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ sick_JJ and_CC could_VM n't_XX speak_VVI ._. 
Janie_NN1 and_CC Barbara_NP1 were_VBDR fine_JJ ,_, though_RR ._. 
By_RT21 now_RT22 ,_, I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ having_VHG difficulty_NN1 swallowing_VVG ,_, chewing_VVG ,_, or_CC even_RR moving_VVG my_APPGE tongue_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 called_VVD Dr._NNB Mauceri_NP1 ,_, Steve_NP1 's_GE doctor_NN1 ,_, and_CC told_VVD him_PPHO1 about_II Art_NN1 and_CC me_PPIO1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD we_PPIS2 should_VM both_RR come_VVI to_II the_AT emergency_NN1 department_NN1 at_II Kingston_NP1 City_NN1 Hospital_NN1 &lsqb;_( where_CS Steve_NP1 was_VBDZ being_VBG evaluated_VVN &rsqb;_) for_IF tests_NN2 ._. "_" 
Dr._NNB Mauceri_NP1 had_VHD already_RR paid_VVN Steve_NP1 two_MC house_NN1 calls_NN2 ._. 
Mauceri_NP1 was_VBDZ not_XX only_RR Gelson_NP1 's_GE doctor_NN1 but_CCB also_RR a_AT1 friend_NN1 ;_; in_II fact_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 had_VHD been_VBN a_AT1 guest_NN1 at_II the_AT first_MD dinner_NN1 party_NN1 on_II Saturday_NPD1 night_NNT1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 saw_VVD Steve_NP1 at_II home_NN1 on_II Wednesday_NPD1 and_CC was_VBDZ somewhat_RR concerned_JJ ,_, but_CCB when_RRQ he_PPHS1 saw_VVD him_PPHO1 again_RT on_II Thursday_NPD1 ,_, at_II about_RG 2_MC PM_NP1 ,_, he_PPHS1 sent_VVD Gelson_NP1 straight_RR to_II the_AT hospital_NN1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 remember_VV0 he_PPHS1 took_VVD my_APPGE portable_JJ phone_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Steve_NP1 ,_, "_" and_CC called_VVN a_AT1 neurologist_NN1 ,_, Dr._NNB Pickard_NP1 ,_, on_II the_AT telephone_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, 'I_UH 've_VH0 got_VVN a_AT1 patient_NN1 I_PPIS1 'd_VM like_VVI you_PPY to_TO see_VVI today_RT ._. 
I_PPIS1 'm_VBM concerned_JJ he_PPHS1 could_VM have_VHI Guillain-Barre_NP1 syndrome_NN1 ._. '_" "_" 
By_II four_MC o'clock_RA that_DD1 afternoon_NNT1 ,_, the_AT consulting_JJ neurologist_NN1 ,_, Dr._NNB Leonard_NP1 Pickard_NP1 ,_, was_VBDZ evaluating_VVG Steve_NP1 Gelson_NP1 in_II the_AT emergency_NN1 department_NN1 ._. 
Pickard_NN1 at_II this_DD1 point_NN1 was_VBDZ still_RR unaware_JJ that_CST Art_NN1 and_CC Pam_NP1 were_VBDR also_RR ill_JJ ._. 
When_CS he_PPHS1 finished_VVD examining_VVG Steve_NP1 ,_, he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ both_RR puzzled_JJ and_CC worried_JJ ._. 
Two_MC major_JJ possibilities_NN2 occurred_VVD to_II him_PPHO1 --_JJ myasthenia_NN1 gravis_NN1 and_CC Guillain-Barre_NP1 syndrome_NN1 ,_, both_RR potentially_RR fatal_JJ neurological_JJ disorders_NN2 ._. 
"_" But_CCB Steve_NP1 's_GE symptoms_NN2 did_VDD n't_XX quite_RR fit_VVI with_IW either_DD1 diagnosis_NN1 ,_, "_" Pickard_NP1 recalls_VVZ ,_, "_" and_CC there_EX was_VBDZ one_MC1 other_JJ possibility_NN1 that_CST Dr._NNB Mauceri_NP1 and_CC I_PPIS1 discussed_VVD ._. "_" 
Pam_NP1 Stogess_NP1 remembers_VVZ ,_, "_" Shortly_RR after_II 4_MC PM_NP1 ,_, Art_NN1 and_CC I_PPIS1 joined_VVD Steve_NP1 at_II the_AT emergency_NN1 room_NN1 ,_, and_CC we_PPIS2 must_VM have_VHI been_VBN quite_RG a_AT1 sight_NN1 ._. 
Steve_NP1 's_GE head_NN1 hung_VVD limp_NN1 to_II one_MC1 side_NN1 ._. 
His_APPGE eyelids_NN2 drooped_VVD shut_JJ so_CS21 that_CS22 when_CS he_PPHS1 spoke_VVD ,_, he_PPHS1 had_VHD to_TO pry_VVI them_PPHO2 open_VV0 with_IW his_APPGE fingers_NN2 ._. 
Art_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 community_NN1 leader_NN1 ,_, looked_VVN like_II a_AT1 drunken_JJ bum_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 had_VHD n't_XX shaved_VVN for_IF a_AT1 couple_NN1 of_IO days_NNT2 ,_, and_CC he_PPHS1 wore_VVD a_AT1 baseball_NN1 cap_NN1 cocked_VVN to_II one_MC1 side_NN1 ._. "_" 
"_" After_CS I_PPIS1 examined_VVD Mr._NNB Gelson_NP1 ,_, "_" recalls_VVZ Dr._NNB Pickard_NP1 ,_, "_" his_APPGE father_NN1 told_VVD me_PPIO1 about_II Pam_NP1 Stogess_NP1 and_CC Art_NN1 Landry_NN1 ._. 
The_AT clustering_NN1 of_IO cases_NN2 was_VBDZ what_DDQ clinched_VVD it_PPH1 ._. 
Even_CS21 though_CS22 I_PPIS1 'd_VM never_RR seen_VVN a_AT1 case_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 knew_VVD they_PPHS2 had_VHD botulism_NN1 ._. "_" 
Botulism_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ derives_VVZ from_II botulus_NN1 ,_, the_AT Latin_JJ word_NN1 for_IF sausage_NN1 ,_, is_VBZ a_AT1 rare_JJ but_CCB often_RR fatal_JJ form_NN1 of_IO food_NN1 poisoning_NN1 caused_VVN by_II the_AT bacterium_NN1 Clostridium_NN1 botulinum_NN1 ._. 
According_II21 to_II22 Dr._NNB A._NP1 Barnett_NP1 Christie_NP1 's_GE eminently_RR readable_JJ textbook_NN1 on_II epidemiology_NN1 and_CC infectious_JJ diseases_NN2 ,_, the_AT history_NN1 of_IO the_AT word_NN1 "_" botulism_NN1 "_" and_CC the_AT discovery_NN1 of_IO the_AT causative_JJ organism_NN1 dates_VVZ back_RP more_DAR than_CSN two_MC hundred_NNO years_NNT2 ._. 
Christie_NP1 wrote_VVD ,_, "_" The_AT term_NN1 was_VBDZ first_MD used_VVN in_II the_AT last_MD years_NNT2 of_IO the_AT eighteenth_MD century_NNT1 following_VVG an_AT1 outbreak_NN1 of_IO the_AT disease_NN1 in_II Wildbad_NP1 ,_, in_II Southern_JJ Germany_NP1 ,_, in_II 1793_MC :_: a_AT1 large_JJ sausage_NN1 had_VHD been_VBN shared_VVN by_II thirteen_MC people_NN ,_, all_DB of_IO whom_PNQO became_VVD ill_JJ and_CC six_MC of_IO whom_PNQO died_VVD ._. "_" 
Much_DA1 of_IO what_DDQ is_VBZ currently_RR known_VVN about_II the_AT clinical_JJ effects_NN2 of_IO botulism_NN1 was_VBDZ catalogued_VVN by_II a_AT1 young_JJ district_NN1 medical_JJ officer_NN1 in_II the_AT duchy_NN1 of_IO Wurttemberg_NP1 named_VVD Dr._NNB Justinus_NP1 Kerner_NP1 ._. 
At_II the_AT beginning_NN1 of_IO the_AT nineteenth_MD century_NNT1 in_II the_AT area_NN1 surrounding_VVG Stuttgart_NP1 ,_, the_AT medical_JJ administration_NN1 of_IO the_AT dukedom_NN1 noticed_VVD an_AT1 increase_NN1 in_II cases_NN2 of_IO fatal_JJ food_NN1 poisoning_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ they_PPHS2 ascribed_VVD to_II the_AT general_JJ decline_NN1 in_II hygienic_JJ measures_NN2 for_IF food_NN1 production_NN1 that_CST resulted_VVD from_II the_AT poverty_NN1 caused_VVN by_II the_AT devastating_JJ Napoleonic_JJ wars_NN2 ._. 
In_II July_NPM1 1802_MC ,_, the_AT government_NN1 in_II Stuttgart_NP1 issued_VVD a_AT1 public_JJ notice_NN1 and_CC warning_NN1 about_II the_AT "_" harmful_JJ consumption_NN1 of_IO smoked_JJ blood_NN1 sausages_NN2 ._. "_" 
Kerner_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS also_RR developed_VVN a_AT1 lasting_JJ reputation_NN1 as_II a_AT1 Romantic_JJ poet_NN1 ,_, began_VVD publishing_VVG his_APPGE findings_NN2 in_II 1817_MC ._. 
By_II 1820_MC ,_, he_PPHS1 had_VHD written_VVN a_AT1 monograph_NN1 that_CST included_VVD data_NN from_II seventy-six_MC patients_NN2 he_PPHS1 had_VHD seen_VVN with_IW "_" sausage_NN1 poisoning_NN1 ,_, "_" as_CSA it_PPH1 was_VBDZ referred_VVN to_II at_II the_AT time_NNT1 ._. 
Kerner_NP1 performed_VVD animal_NN1 experiments_NN2 and_CC did_VDD many_DA2 autopsies_NN2 on_II patients_NN2 who_PNQS had_VHD died_VVN from_II botulism_NN1 ._. 
By_II the_AT mid-1820s_MC2 ,_, he_PPHS1 had_VHD established_VVN most_DAT of_IO what_DDQ we_PPIS2 currently_RR know_VV0 to_TO be_VBI true_JJ ._. 
He_PPHS1 wrote_VVD ,_, "_" The_AT tear_NN1 fluid_NN1 disappears_VVZ ,_, the_AT gullet_NN1 becomes_VVZ a_AT1 dead_JJ and_CC motionless_JJ tube_NN1 &hellip;_... 
._. No_AT saliva_NN1 is_VBZ secreted_VVN ._. 
No_AT drop_NN1 of_IO wetness_NN1 is_VBZ felt_VVN in_II the_AT mouth_NN1 ,_, no_AT tear_NN1 is_VBZ secreted_VVN anymore_RR ._. "_" 
Using_VVG various_JJ extracts_NN2 that_CST he_PPHS1 made_VVD from_II the_AT sausages_NN2 ,_, Kerner_NP1 experimented_VVD on_II cats_NN2 ,_, rabbits_NN2 ,_, birds_NN2 ,_, snails_NN2 ,_, insects_NN2 ,_, and_CC frogs_NN2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ able_JK to_TO produce_VVI all_DB the_AT typical_JJ symptoms_NN2 --_JJ dilated_JJ pupil_NN1 ,_, droopy_JJ eyelids_NN2 ,_, vomiting_VVG ,_, problems_NN2 with_IW swallowing_VVG ,_, and_CC respiratory_JJ failure_NN1 --_NN1 in_II these_DD2 animals_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB Kerner_NP1 went_VVD even_RR further_RRR ._. 
Like_II many_DA2 physicians_NN2 of_IO his_APPGE time_NNT1 ,_, he_PPHS1 experimented_VVD on_II himself_PPX1 ._. 
After_II taking_VVG very_RG diluted_JJ extracts_NN2 from_II the_AT sausage_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 wrote_VVD ,_, "_" some_DD drops_NN2 of_IO the_AT acid_NN1 brought_VVN onto_II the_AT tongue_NN1 &lsqb;_( produced_VVN &rsqb;_) great_JJ drying_NN1 out_II21 of_II22 the_AT palate_NN1 and_CC the_AT pharynx_NN1 ._. "_" 
When_CS the_AT university_NN1 professor_NN1 who_PNQS had_VHD been_VBN his_APPGE instructor_NN1 discovered_VVN that_CST Kerner_NP1 was_VBDZ poisoning_VVG himself_PPX1 in_II the_AT name_NN1 of_IO research_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 wisely_RR forbade_VVD future_JJ self-experimentation_NN1 ._. 
Although_CS Kerner_NP1 tried_VVD in_RR21 vain_RR22 to_TO produce_VVI the_AT toxin_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 did_VDD uncover_VVI the_AT three_MC major_JJ principles_NN2 about_II sausage_NN1 poisoning_NN1 :_: he_PPHS1 learned_VVD that_CST the_AT toxin_NN1 is_VBZ created_VVN in_II the_AT bad_JJ sausage_NN1 when_CS it_PPH1 is_VBZ stored_VVN in_II an_AT1 oxygen-free_JJ state_NN1 ;_; that_CST the_AT toxin_NN1 acted_VVN on_II both_DB2 the_AT motor_NN1 and_CC autonomic_JJ portions_NN2 of_IO the_AT nervous_JJ system_NN1 ;_; and_CC that_CST the_AT toxin_NN1 was_VBDZ extremely_RR potent_JJ and_CC could_VM lead_VVI to_II symptoms_NN2 in_II very_RG small_JJ doses_NN2 ._. 
Most_RGT remarkably_RR ,_, Kerner_NP1 speculated_VVD in_II his_APPGE 1820_MC report_NN1 that_CST certain_JJ diseases_NN2 that_CST are_VBR caused_VVN by_II a_AT1 "_" hyperstimulated_JJ "_" or_CC "_" hyperexcited_VVD "_" nervous_JJ system_NN1 might_VM in_II fact_NN1 be_VBI treated_VVN by_II the_AT toxin_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 was_VBDZ not_XX until_CS 1870_MC that_CST the_AT word_NN1 "_" botulism_NN1 "_" was_VBDZ formally_RR coined_VVN by_II another_DD1 German_JJ physician_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 took_VVD nearly_RR thirty_MC more_DAR years_NNT2 for_IF the_AT causative_JJ organism_NN1 to_TO be_VBI defined_VVN ,_, in_RR21 part_RR22 because_CS the_AT necessary_JJ tools_NN2 of_IO bacteriology_NN1 were_VBDR still_RR in_II their_APPGE infancy_NN1 during_II the_AT late_JJ nineteenth_MD century_NNT1 ._. 
Finding_VVG the_AT organism_NN1 that_CST was_VBDZ actually_RR causing_VVG botulism_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 story_NN1 in_II itself_PPX1 ._. 
It_PPH1 starts_VVZ in_II the_AT tiny_JJ village_NN1 of_IO Ellezelles_NP2 ,_, Belgium_NP1 ._. 
Thirty-four_MC individuals_NN2 attended_VVD a_AT1 funeral_NN1 on_II a_AT1 cold_JJ day_NNT1 in_II December_NPM1 1895_MC ._. 
The_AT food_NN1 served_VVN for_IF the_AT occasion_NN1 included_VVD both_RR smoked_VVN and_CC pickled_JJ ham_NN1 ._. 
The_AT latter_DA had_VHD been_VBN pickled_VVN within_II twenty-four_MC hours_NNT2 of_IO slaughter_NN1 and_CC kept_VVN in_II brine_NN1 for_IF eleven_MC days_NNT2 before_CS it_PPH1 was_VBDZ consumed_VVN ._. 
It_PPH1 did_VDD n't_XX look_VVI right_JJ and_CC it_PPH1 did_VDD n't_XX smell_VVI right_RR ,_, but_CCB that_DD1 did_VDD not_XX seem_VVI to_TO have_VHI dampened_VVN the_AT enthusiasm_NN1 with_IW which_DDQ it_PPH1 was_VBDZ eaten_VVN by_II the_AT guests_NN2 and_CC members_NN2 of_IO the_AT village_NN1 band_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS apparently_RR were_VBDR playing_VVG both_RR for_IF the_AT funeral_NN1 as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 a_AT1 local_JJ festival_NN1 ._. 
The_AT first_MD victims_NN2 fell_VVD ill_JJ in_II less_DAR than_CSN twenty-four_MC hours_NNT2 ,_, and_CC in_II all_DB ,_, twenty-three_MC people_NN became_VVD sick_JJ ._. 
Three_MC died_VVD ,_, and_CC ten_MC nearly_RR died_VVD ._. 
Some_DD who_PNQS had_VHD eaten_VVN smaller_JJR amounts_NN2 had_VHD a_AT1 mild_JJ illness_NN1 ,_, and_CC a_AT1 few_DA2 ,_, who_PNQS had_VHD eaten_VVN only_RR fat_JJ or_CC very_RG small_JJ pieces_NN2 of_IO the_AT meat_NN1 ,_, had_VHD no_AT symptoms_NN2 at_RR21 all_RR22 ._. 
Dr._NNB Emile_NP1 Pierre_NP1 van_NP1 Ermengem_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS had_VHD studied_VVN under_II the_AT great_JJ German_JJ pathologist_NN1 Robert_NP1 Koch_NP1 ,_, investigated_VVD ._. 
He_PPHS1 found_VVD a_AT1 large_JJ anaerobic_JJ (_( grows_VVZ in_II the_AT absence_NN1 of_IO oxygen_NN1 )_) bacillus_NN1 (_( long_JJ bacterium_NN1 )_) in_II the_AT ham_NN1 that_CST had_VHD been_VBN served_VVN at_II the_AT funeral_NN1 and_CC in_II the_AT tissues_NN2 of_IO some_DD of_IO the_AT victims_NN2 as_RR21 well_RR22 ._. 
From_II these_DD2 samples_NN2 ,_, he_PPHS1 grew_VVD the_AT bacteria_NN2 in_II the_AT laboratory_NN1 ._. 
Finally_RR ,_, when_CS he_PPHS1 fed_VVD cats_NN2 food_NN1 laced_VVN with_IW the_AT organism_NN1 ,_, they_PPHS2 developed_VVD paralysis_NN1 ._. 
Dr._NNB Ermengem_NP1 had_VHD finally_RR found_VVN the_AT cause_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 published_VVD his_APPGE findings_NN2 in_II a_AT1 German_JJ microbiology_NN1 journal_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 was_VBDZ the_AT first_MD recorded_JJ isolation_NN1 of_IO Clostridium_NP1 botulinum_NN1 ._. 
Nine_MC years_NNT2 later_RRR ,_, in_II 1904_MC ,_, an_AT1 outbreak_NN1 of_IO botulism_NN1 from_II canned_JJ white_JJ beans_NN2 surprised_JJ researchers_NN2 ,_, for_IF it_PPH1 had_VHD been_VBN thought_VVN that_CST only_JJ meat_NN1 or_CC fish_NN could_VM lead_VVI to_II the_AT disease_NN1 ._. 
Over_II succeeding_JJ decades_NNT2 ,_, researchers_NN2 worked_VVD out_RP additional_JJ details_NN2 that_CST built_VVD on_II the_AT early_JJ pioneers_NN2 '_GE theories_NN2 ._. 
