In the last fifty years, Clostridium botulinum has become notorious for its 
ability to produce the deadly botulinum neurotoxins. While botulinum toxin A, 
better known as Botox, is universally recognised by the public as a cosmetic 
enhancement tool, the botulinum neurotoxins are commonly used off-label for many 
medical conditions in ophthalmology, neurology and dermatology. The versatility 
of these botulinum toxins has made Clostridium botulinum one of the most widely 
known bacterial pathogens in medical history. This article outlines the 
discovery of botulinum toxins through to their present day applications in 
medicine.