The quills of the Porcupine symbolize the generations of ancestors and their wisdom that have come before, each quill a representation of a family ancestor. Porcupine carries great meaning for connecting to ancient ancestors and their way of life, and the knowledge of living in harmony with the land and other animals.
1 An average of 110 cases of botulism is reported annually in the US. 2  About twenty-five percent of these cases are foodborne botulism. 3  Mean age of infected people is 46 years, with a range from 3 to 78 years. 4  Men and women are affected equally. An average of 110 cases of botulism is reported annually in the US. 2  Over the past few years the number of cases of wound botulism has been between thirty and forty percent. 3  The median age of affected patients is 41 years with a range of 23-58 years.
Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that affects the nervous system and can cause paralysis. The bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which is found commonly in nature, produces this toxin. There are several types of botulism, including foodborne botulism, which is caused by eating foods that contain the botulinum toxin. Botulism is a serious illness that should be treated as a medical emergency. Severe cases of botulism can lead to paralysis of the breathing muscles, respiratory or heart failure and death. If not diagnosed and treated, death from respiratory failure can occur within 1 to 10 days.