Jamaican ginger paralysis - have you heard of it?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382483)
Rockingham, Australia
September 23, 2024 5:28am CST
The photo has nothing to do with the discussion. It’s of a baby elephant pushing Vince around when we visited an elephant centre. Vince is trying to change the film in his camera.
I’ve just read ‘Water for Elephants’ by Sara Gruen and what an interesting book it is. It’s set in the American train circus world during the Great Depression. The author has researched her subject thoroughly and I found the book fascinating.
One of the minor characters in the book is an alcoholic and eventually succumbs to Jamaican ginger paralysis. In the footnotes, the author says that around a hundred thousand Americans between 1930 and 1931 were devastated by the condition, which caused paralysis of the hands and feet.
Nicknamed ‘jake’, Jamaican ginger was a late 19th century patent medicine. It contained 70 to 80% ethanol (by weight) and was a convenient way to obtain alcohol during Prohibition. This was just one of the fascinating aspects of this book.
20 people like this
20 responses
@Kandae11 (57230)
•
23 Sep 24
I will have to look that up. The medicine was made from ginger? I try to make ginger a part of my daily diet, it is considered a superfood because of its numerous health benefits. I sometimes have ginger tea and l add it to soups, porridge and baked goods.
8 people like this
@Dreamerby (10111)
• Calcutta, India
23 Sep 24
Also good for skin.
and helps in digestion.
and helps in digestion.4 people like this
@Dreamerby (10111)
• Calcutta, India
23 Sep 24
@Beestring Nice. My day can't start without a cup of ginger chai
6 people like this
@Dreamerby (10111)
• Calcutta, India
23 Sep 24
Yeah. Me too. Hearing it the first time.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Sep 24
@Dreamerby I hadn't heard of it before either.
5 people like this
@xFiacre (14800)
• Ireland
23 Sep 24
@judyev Now don’t you go giving us young people fancy ideas about making our own hooch We have here for purchase in supermarkets ginger cake called Jamaican ginger cake but it’s never made me fall down and it’s very store-bought. Home made ginger cake (the innocent confection) is much nicer.
4 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91155)
• United States
23 Sep 24
I've never heard of Jamaican ginger paralysis. I actually have that book but have never read it. From your description it sounds very interesting and maybe I should dig it out and read it.
Love the picture!
4 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91155)
• United States
24 Sep 24
@JudyEv I remember going into New York City to Madson Square Garden to see the circus when I was a kid. I am definitely going to look for that book as it really sounds interesting. I don't know why I didn't read it when I got it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Sep 24
@Marilynda1225 I have another pictorial book about the huge circuses. I might write about some of the more staggering facts one day.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
23 Sep 24
I dont think i have ever heard of this.
I would love to go see the elephants though.
I couldn't help but laugh at the size of that camcorder.
5 people like this
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
23 Sep 24
@JudyEv We had an older friend die a couple years ago, and we found one of the big OLD ones that held a whole VHS tape in it when you used it. The big old camcorders.
4 people like this
@Dreamerby (10111)
• Calcutta, India
23 Sep 24
@thislittlepennyearns Oh. Photography back then seemed really classy you know...maybe because it was expensive
2 people like this
@popciclecold (40214)
• United States
23 Sep 24
My first time ever hearing this. I bet that was tough to deal with. Vince has a way with animals first chickens and now elephants.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Sep 24
I hadn't thought about Vince and animals but it's very true. After he met this little foal, he said I could get our Shetland in foal if I wanted to! lol
@BarBaraPrz (51838)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
23 Sep 24
That is fascinating. Maybe I'll read the book next time I come across it.
4 people like this
@snowy22315 (209138)
• United States
23 Sep 24
Never heard of that! I am going to put that in the category of learning something new everyday. That is definitely one.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Sep 24
I'm now reading a non-fiction circus book but haven't heard of 'jake' in it yet. The two buckets of water per person per day is mentioned in both books, and lots of other facts fit which is nice to know.
@allknowing (153529)
• India
24 Sep 24
That is a cute photo there I see!!
We use ginger in many dishes At the moment I have ginger garlic paste in the fridge (lol)
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (98106)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Sep 24
That is a cute photo I think the baby elephant wanted some attention, I have never heard about this disease,
2 people like this
@Dreamerby (10111)
• Calcutta, India
23 Sep 24
New fact noted. Didn't know about the paralysis part.
4 people like this
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@Orson_Kart (8320)
• United Kingdom
24 Sep 24
I’ve never heard of it. McVities make a Jamaican ginger cake, which is delicious with custard. So far, no ill effects other than a full tum and an uncontrollable urge to have a snooze soon after. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Sep 24
I love cake and custard. Ginger cake would be especially good. And I could go a snooze after too.
@FourWalls (86855)
• United States
23 Sep 24
I’ve never heard of Jamaican ginger paralysis, but I have read that a LOT of people were killed or permanently disabled by “homemade hooch” during Prohibition.
I want to hear more about the elephant and Vince!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382483)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Sep 24
I'm reading another non-fiction book now about circuses and all the information fits in with Water For Elephants. She did a lot of research for her book.
@JESSY3236 (22244)
• United States
24 Sep 24
I have heard of Water for Elephants, but I haven't read the book. There is a movie based on the book too. I haven't heard of Jamaican ginger paralysis.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
24 Sep 24
The picture is amazing. I have always wanted to interact with elephants, especially babies. You and Vince are so lucky. I never heard of Jamaican ginger paralysis. Thank you for the interesting post. Have a good day.
