Émile Pierre-Marie van Ermengem (1851–1932, or 1851–1922 according to some sources) was a Belgian bacteriologist who, in 1895, isolated Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism, from a piece of ham that had poisoned thirty four people.[1]
He worked at the University of Ghent. His sons were the writer Franz Hellens and the art critic François Maret.
Novak, John S., Peck, Micheal W.; Juneja, Vijay K.; Johnson, Eric A. (2005). "Chapter 19: Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium perfringens". In Fratamico, Pina M.; Bhunia, Arun K.; Smith, James L.. Foodborne pathogens: microbiology and molecular biology (1st ed.). Wymondham: Caister Academic Press. p. 385. ISBN 978-1-904455-00-4. http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/Abstract.aspx?AcNo=20063045992.