Tox Tunes #101: Alcohol and Jake Blues (Tommy Johnson, 1930)

One of the most interesting, and tragic, episodes of mass poisoning in U.S. history involves “jake paralysis“. The first depiction in the medical literature was in a June 1930 New England Journal of Medicine article, that described an epidemic of motor neuropathy that occurred in the midwestern and southern states. As I explained in the “Toxicology Rounds” column in Emergency Medicine News: Onset of this condition was usually heralded by lower leg muscular pain and tingling, rapidly followed by weakness that often also involved the upper extremities. Distal deep tendon reflexes were diminished. Sensory function remained intact or was only minimally affected. The author of the NEJM article, Dr. Benjamin T. Burley, wrote that “The exact etiological factor i this paralysis has thus far escaped identification.” It is unfortunate he seems not to have followed popular culture closely, because earlier in 1930 blues musicians such as Tommy Johnson were already recording songs like “Alcohol and Jake Blues” that not only described the ravages of this epidemic, but also pointed to the causative agent: I drink to much of Jake, till it done give me the limber leg (And that’s sure to mess you up) Drinking so much of Jake, till it done give me the limber leg If I don’t quit drinking it every morning, sure gonna kill me dead “Jake” was Jamaica Ginger Extract, a preparation that was 80% ethanol by weight. During prohibiti...
Source: The Poison Review - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: Medical jake leg jake walk limber leg neurotoxicity opidn organophosphate induced delayed neuropathy Tommy Johnson Source Type: news