Short Stuff: The Original Snake Oil Salesman | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW
Dive into an intriguing episode of "Stuff You Should Know" with hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant, as they explore the tarnished history of a once-respected remedy in their discussion on snake oil's legacy. From its legitimate health benefits in ancient China to its infamous demise in the American market, hear the story of how a legitimate medicine became synonymous with fraud and deceit.
In this episode, the hosts journey beyond the downfall of snake oil to its metaphorical resurrection in 20th-century literature. Discover how acclaimed writers like Stephen Vincent Benet and Eugene O'Neill immortalized the term in their works, using it to critique society's penchant for sham cures and false hope. This analysis insightfully reveals the enduring power of language as it evolves from physical substances to symbols of human folly. Join "Stuff You Should Know" for a dose of history and culture, all wrapped up in the enduring mythos of snake oil.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Feb 15, 2024 episode of the Stuff You Should Know
Sign up for Shortform to access the whole episode summary along with additional materials like counterarguments and context.
1-Page Summary
History of snake oil
Snake oil's origins are traced back to ancient China, where it was esteemed for its high omega-3 fatty acids content, aiding in reducing inflammation and supporting heart and brain health. It was brought to the United States in the 19th century by Chinese immigrants who used it to treat sore muscles while building the transcontinental railroad. However, its reputation became tarnished due to the rise of patent medicines in America, which often made unverified claims and were sold by questionable salespeople. Clark Stanley, known as the "Rattlesnake King," significantly contributed to the degradation of snake oil's reputation. He concocted a fake snake oil made from beef fat, spices, and other ingredients unrelated to the original Chinese remedy. He fabricated stories about its origins, falsely attributing it to rattlesnakes and a Hopi medicine man. This product, lacking the efficacy of true snake oil, played a pivotal role in transforming the term "snake oil" into an emblem of deceit and scams.
Meaning expands metaphorically in 20th century literature
In the 20th century, literature began to use "snake oil" as a metaphor, reflecting the evolution of language and the use of symbolism. For example, Stephen Vincent Benet's 1927 poem "John Brown's Body" includes the phrase "Sellers of Snake Oil Balm" to metaphorically denounce the spread of fraudulent cures and the prevalence of deceit. Eugene O'Neill's 1956 play "The Iceman Cometh" also weaves the term into its narrative, using it to illustrate the absurdity of seeking solutions to hopeless or unfixable problems, likening snake oil to a futile balm for burns in hell. These literary examples demonstrate how the concept of snake oil has shifted from a reputable remedy to a universal metaphor for false promises and exploitation.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- In ancient China, snake oil was valued for its high omega-3 fatty acids, believed to aid in reducing inflammation and supporting heart and brain health. It was used as a traditional remedy by Chinese healers for various ailments. The practice of using snake oil dates back centuries in Chinese medicine, where it was considered a beneficial treatment. The historical significance lies in the belief that snake oil had medicinal properties that could benefit health and well-being.
- Chinese immigrants brought snake oil to the United States in the 19th century, using it to treat sore muscles while working on the transcontinental railroad. They introduced the traditional Chinese remedy to American society, where it gained popularity for its perceived health benefits. However, the reputation of snake oil was later tarnished due to the rise of fraudulent patent medicines and deceptive marketing practices in the country. This led to the transformation of "snake oil" from a legitimate remedy to a symbol of deceit and exploitation in American culture.
- The rise of patent medicines in America led to the tarnishing of snake oil's reputation because these medicines often made false claims and were sold by dubious individuals, creating a general distrust in such products. Patent medicines were widely marketed as cure-alls without scientific evidence, contributing to the skepticism surrounding snake oil's efficacy. This association with fraudulent practices further damaged the credibility of snake oil as a legitimate remedy. The deceptive marketing tactics of patent medicines overshadowed the genuine benefits of snake oil, leading to its negative perception in the public eye.
- Clark Stanley, known as the "Rattlesnake King," played a significant role in tarnishing the reputation of snake oil by creating a fake version of the remedy. He concocted a fraudulent snake oil made from beef fat and other unrelated ingredients, falsely claiming it had medicinal properties. Stanley's deceptive marketing tactics and fabricated stories about the origins of his product contributed to the negative association of snake oil with deceit and scams.
- In 20th-century literature, "snake oil" was metaphorically used to symbolize deceit, fraud, and false promises. Authors like Stephen Vincent Benet and Eugene O'Neill employed this metaphor to criticize the spread of fraudulent cures and the futility of seeking solutions to unfixable problems. The term evolved from its historical context of a once-reputable remedy to represent universal themes of exploitation and deception in modern society.
Counterarguments
- The efficacy of traditional Chinese snake oil has not been widely studied or validated by modern scientific methods, so its purported health benefits may be overstated.
- The use of snake oil by Chinese immigrants in the United States may have been less widespread and less integral to their medical practices than suggested.
- The tarnishing of snake oil's reputation in America may have been influenced by broader xenophobic attitudes towards Chinese immigrants and their traditions, rather than solely by fraudulent patent medicines.
- The narrative that Clark Stanley single-handedly destroyed the reputation of snake oil may oversimplify the complex history of medicine and consumer protection in the United States.
- The metaphorical use of "snake oil" in literature could be seen as perpetuating negative stereotypes about traditional remedies and non-Western medicine.
- The evolution of the term "snake oil" into a metaphor for deceit may overshadow the historical context and cultural significance of the original product.
- The text does not provide evidence for the claim that snake oil was esteemed in ancient China for its omega-3 fatty acid content, as knowledge of omega-3s is relatively modern.
Learn more
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
History of snake oil
The term "snake oil" has a history that begins with legitimate use in ancient China but later became synonymous with fraud and deceit due to misleading practices in the United States.
Legitimate use in ancient China
Oil high in omega-3 fatty acids, reduces inflammation
Originally, the oil extracted from Chinese water snakes was high in omega-3 fatty acids. This made it beneficial for health, particularly for the brain and heart, and it was effective in reducing inflammation, similar to the benefits of fish oil.
Chinese immigrants bring it to 19th century US
When Chinese immigrants came to work on the transcontinental railroad in the 19th century, they brought with them their traditional snake oil, which had become a popular remedy for sore muscles and inflammation among the workers.
Growth of fraudulent "patent medicines"
Clark Stanley, who claimed to have heard stories of the Chinese using snake oil, saw an opportunity to create his own version in the US. However, the connection between Chinese immigrants and the introduction of snake oil to the US was merely suggestive.
Bryant mentions that patent medicines at the time were essentially the American snake oil—marketed as cure-alls but containing unknown ingredients and sold by dubious salespeople at various prices.
Stanley's fake "snake oil" made of beef fat, spices, etc.
Stanley's snake oil liniment contained a mix of beef fat, red pepper, turpentine, mineral oil, and camphor—all ingredients far removed from the original Chinese snake oil.
Stanley falsely claims his product comes from rattlers and a Hopi man
Stanley embellished his sto ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
History of snake oil
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- Chinese immigrants introduced snake oil to the US as a traditional remedy they brought with them. The oil was used by Chinese workers on the transcontinental railroad for sore muscles and inflammation. This introduction led to the commercialization of snake oil in the US, eventually leading to fraudulent practices by individuals like Clark Stanley.
- Patent medicines were widely marketed in the 19th century in the United States as cure-alls, often with exaggerated claims of effectiveness. These medicines were typically sold without a prescription and contained undisclosed or questionable ingredients. The term "American snake oil" is used metaphorically to describe these patent medicines due to their dubious efficacy and the deceptive marketing tactics used to promote them. This association highlights the similarities between the fraudulent practices of selling patent medicines and the tarnished reputation of snake oil in American history.
- Clark Stanley's fake snake oil liniment contained a mixture of beef fat, red pepper, turpentine, mineral oil, and camphor. These ingredients were significantly different from the original Chinese snake oil, which was high in omega-3 fatty acids and had health benefits. Stanley's concoction lacked the beneficial properties of the authentic snake oil and was essentially a mislead ...
Counterarguments
- The efficacy of Chinese water snake oil has not been scientifically validated by modern standards, and its purported health benefits may be overstated or based on anecdotal evidence.
- While Chinese immigrants did bring snake oil to the US, it's possible that its popularity and perceived effectiveness were influenced by the placebo effect or cultural beliefs rather than its actual pharmacological properties.
- The term "patent medicines" refers to a broad category of products, some of which may have had legitimate uses or contained effective ingredients, despite the prevalence of fraudulent practices.
- Clark Stanley's snake oil liniment, while fraudulent, was part of a larger context of unregulated medicine where many products were misrepresented, not just his.
- The story of Stanley's snake oil may have been more complex, with so ...
Learn more
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Meaning expands metaphorically in 20th century literature
Literary works in the 20th century often used expressions metaphorically, lending deeper meaning to common phrases. Demonstrating this trend, two pieces of literature expanded the metaphorical use of "snake oil," showing the evolution of language and symbolism in the literary canon.
1927 poem refers to "Snake Oil Balm"
In 1927, the phrase "Sellers of Snake Oil Balm" appeared in Stephen Vincent Benet’s poem "John Brown's Body." This line metaphorically references the proliferation of fraudulent cures and false promises, an idea that continues to resonate as a common theme in literature analyzing the nature of deceit and exploitation.
1956 play mentions snake oil for burns in hell
Similarly, Eugene O'Neill's 1956 play "The Iceman Cometh" incorporates the concept of snake oil as a metaphor. In the play, a char ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Meaning expands metaphorically in 20th century literature
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- The metaphorical use of "snake oil" in literature often symbolizes deceit, fraud, and false promises. This metaphor originates from the historical practice of selling fraudulent cure-all elixirs in the 19th century. In literature, "snake oil" has evolved to represent the futility of seeking solutions to insurmountable problems or the dangers of ...
Counterarguments
- The metaphorical use of "snake oil" is not unique to the 20th century; metaphors have been a literary device for centuries, and their use has evolved continuously rather than specifically in the 20th century.
- The interpretation of "snake oil" as a symbol for fraudulent cures and false promises, while valid, may not encompass all possible meanings and could be seen as an oversimplification of the symbol's versatility in literature.
- The claim that these two works demonstrate the evolution of language and symbolism might be overstated, as they represent only a small sample of the vast body of 20th-century literature.
- The idea that "snake oil" in "The Iceman Cometh" is a metaphor for seeking a cure for insurmountable problems could be contested by arguing that it might also represent broader themes of human self-deception or the nature of hope in the face of despair.
- The assertion that these literary examples show an evolution ...
Learn more
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Create Summaries for anything on the web
Download the Shortform Chrome extension for your browser
