Botulinum toxin, a blessing in disguise - Its discovery by Emile Van Ermengem in 1897 and its use in human therapy since 1977

A dramatic case of food intoxication from eating ham that occurred in the v illage of Ellezelles (Hainaut, Belgium) led to the discovery and descriptio n of Clostridium botulinum and its toxins by Emile Van Ermengem (1851-1932) from Ghent University in 1897. Although botulinum food intoxication continues to be a threat, particularly in animals, botulinum toxin A has been intensively used in human medicine since 1977 in the treatment of strabism, blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm . This therapeutic effect is based on the reversible (approximately three m onths) blocking of the liberation of acetylcholin in the nerve synapses, wh ich thus prevents the neuronal transmission of stimuli.