Incidence of Partial Paralysis

Abstract

IN March the attention of the Tennessee State Department of Public Health was called to the occurrence of a number of cases of a condition which, for want of a better term, has been called partial paralysis. A number of other terms have also been applied such as peripheral polyneuritis, toxic polyneuritis, and Jamaica ginger paralysis. Terms in common usage have been: leg, foot, hop, and Jake paralysis. So far as our information goes, cases have been reported in greater numbers in the southern states, especially Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Kentucky. The experience with regard to the cases occurring in Tennessee is the basis for this paper. There have been gathered more or less complete histories from 208 cases. This in all probability does not indicate the true extent of the condition, as many cases have occurred without being seen by any physician. Information gathered in the areas of greatest prevalence in Tennessee leads to the assumption that only about two-thirds of the cases have been reported. Of the 208 cases, 185 were from 4 counties, Washington, Carter, Sullivan and Unicoi, which are contiguous and located in the extreme northeastern section of the state, the greatest number being from the 2 counties first mentioned-Washington with 120 cases, and Carter with 52 cases. However, scattered cases were reported from 8 other counties.