Prompt Cast
Origin and Evolution of Snake Oil
TLDR Snake oil originated in ancient China from venomous Chinese water snakes and had legitimate health benefits, but transitioned to fake patent medicine through the actions of a cowboy named Clark Stanley, who marketed a concoction of beef fat, red pepper, mineral oil, camphor, and turpentine as a cure for various ailments. This led to the term "snake oil" becoming synonymous with fraudulent medicine and a catch-all term to deride all patent medicines.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Snake oil is a quack remedy or panacea, and this is the origin story of snake oil.
01:51
The original snake oil from ancient China was made from venomous Chinese water snakes and had legitimate health benefits, unlike the fake snake oil sold today.
03:42
Snake oil became popular as a curative for sore muscles and inflammation, catching the attention of a cowboy named Clark Stanley who became a patent medicine seller, leading to the bad reputation of patent medicines.
05:29
Snake oil transitioned from legitimate medicine to fake patent medicine through the actions of Clark Stanley, a cowboy-turned-patent medicine seller.
07:19
Clark Stanley made a snake oil liniment out of rattlesnakes and marketed it as a cure for various ailments, without giving credit to the Chinese people who introduced him to snake oil.
09:10
Clark Stanley, the original snake oil salesman, claimed to have learned to make snake oil from rattlesnakes but actually used a concoction of beef fat, red pepper, mineral oil, camphor, and turpentine, which led to the term "snake oil" becoming synonymous with fraudulent medicine.
11:03
The term "snake oil" became a catch-all term to deride all patent medicines after Clark Stanley was busted, and it was referenced in a poem by Stephen Vincent Benet and a play by Eugene O'Neill.
Categories:
Society & Culture
