Gas gangrene, for example ... A man suffered a pitchfork wound of the leg, walked two miles in search of medical assistance and was found to have soft-tissue gas from the knee to the hip.

"In a matter of an hour, her leg just started to swell up and a really bad smell came from it," Mr Brown said. "It seriously smelled like death." Ms Wardrope had contracted gas gangrene ...

Several skin conditions, both infectious and noninfectious, have been described in the homeless population including trauma, cellulitis, pyodermas, impetigo, gas gangrene, tinea infections ...