Snake
Oil--it's synonymous with being cheated. So, what’s the story behind the term “snake
oil salesman”?
It started innocently. As Chinese workers flooded into the United States in the nineteenth century, they brought snake oil with them. It was a cure made from the Chinese water snake. People rubbed it on their joints to reduce swelling, something that seemed to work.
Americans wondered how they could make their own snake oil. Enter Clark Stanley, the Rattlesnake King. The former cowboy traveled around the country, setting up his medicine show in towns.
Think
about these western small towns. There was little entertainment. Watching
Stanley chop up a rattlesnake and then add it to liquid drew crowds.
Sadly,
it was all for show. The actual medicine he sold was mostly mineral water. It
did help some, probably because it contained capsaicin from the pepper extract
he added. That gave the tingling effect so customers felt the snake oil
working.
We know now that capsaicin actually does reduce inflammation. Too, we know that chopped rattlesnake doesn’t. (LOL) Stanley knew that too, but he made a fortune out of his product.
After
the government passed the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, Stanley’s snake oil
was tested. Newspapers blasted the news that there was no snake in it. From
that, snake oil became a term associated with false promises.
Here's something that's not full of snake oil. My new release has been tickling the funny bone of readers.
It's jammed with romance and adventure with a heroine who is NOT impressed with her groom at first sight. What will it take to change her mind?
Very interesting post. I'm always fascinated by snake oil medicine from the past.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading your latest release, Marisa. Thank for the origin of the snake oil. I had no idea it came with the Chinese. Great post.
ReplyDelete