A case of human Clostridium sordelli soft tissue infection is presented. Analysis of this patient's course led to the use of a mouse experimental model for examination of this organism's potential for toxin production. Data thus obtained correlated with that seen in this instance of human infection, indicates that the lethal effects of this organism may be related to the ability to Clostridium sordelli to produce a widespread "toxin-mediated" edema with subsequent marked "third-space" sequestration of fluid.