Podcast Summary
Exploring the Fascinating History and Racism Related to Snake Oil Salesmen: While snake oil was once a legitimate Chinese medicine, it became associated with quackery due to fraudulent Western salesmen. However, it's important to recognize that the history of snake oil also includes racism towards Chinese people.
The podcast "Maintenance Phase" discusses topics related to diet, wellness, and the things that pretend to be those things.In a recent episode, hosts Michael Hobbes and Aubrey Gordon delved into the history of snake oil and the quackery surrounding it.While the phrase "snake oil salesman" has become synonymous with selling fraudulent health products, snake oil was actually a real thing used in traditional Chinese medicine.The episode explores the bizarre history of quackery and the medicine shows that helped popularize snake oil in the West.However, the hosts caution that the story also involves hefty doses of racism.
The History of Traditional Medicine Shows: Medicine shows have been around for centuries and were popular in Europe during times when the Catholic Church banned theater and circus performances. These shows may have been early forms of infomercials and were successful despite the lack of scientific evidence to support the products being sold.
Medicine shows are a traditional way of selling health products that date back to ancient Egypt and Greece.These types of shows often featured performers who would pretend to have injuries, and then cure themselves with a health product in front of a live audience.The shows were popular in Europe during the decline of the Roman Empire when the Catholic Church banned theater and circus performances.Eventually, these shows made their way to England and Italy where the term "charlatan" was coined to describe people who sold salves and other drugs in public places.These shows served as an early infomercial and were successful even though there was no scientific method to determine if a product truly worked.
The Rise and Deception of Medicine Shows in History.: Medicine shows in history were a combination of entertainment and false medical promises that often featured freak shows and magic tricks to convince people to buy their tonics. They were closely linked to Wild West shows and gained even more traction during the Enlightenment period, despite being easily able to dupe large crowds with their tricks.
Medicine shows in history were a combination of entertainment and false medical promises.They would involve lengthy shows that included freak shows and magic tricks to convince people to buy their health tonics.Medicine shows were closely linked to Wild West shows, which were a way for white people to put indigenous people on display and charge others to come look at them.These shows were hugely popular, but also easily able to dupe large crowds with their tricks.Interestingly, rather than dying off during the Enlightenment period, medicine shows gained even more traction.
The Legacy of Medicine Shows and the Rise of Modern Wellness Influencers: From the 1800s to the 1950s, medicine shows dominated entertainment in rural America, often deceiving their audience by selling fake products with scientific jargon. Today, the rise of wellness influencers may have similarities, but many believe in the effectiveness of their products. It's important to be aware of past marketing tactics and remain critical of current claims.
During the 1800s to the 1950s, medicine shows became popular in the US as they provided entertainment, especially in small towns and rural areas where there was little else to do.These shows legitimized themselves by using scientific terminology but often sold fake products to make money.P.T.Barnum, the biggest popularizer of medicine shows, made himself rich by selling bear grease (which was just Vaseline) and promoting racism in his shows.Today, wellness influencers and their products may be similar to the medicine shows of the past, but the difference is that many believe the effectiveness of their products, unlike the snake oil salesmen of before.
Medicine Shows and Their Role in the Unregulated Medical Field of the 1700s: In the 1700s, medicine was unregulated, and many doctors were not literate. This allowed anyone to claim to be a physician and offer medical solutions without certifications or labels. Medicine shows, mostly dominated by men, were popular as they marketed solutions that people trusted more than doctors. Women professional actors were also associated with sex work during this time.
In the 1700s, medicine shows were popular because medicine was unregulated, and anyone could claim to be a physician.There were no structures for medical education or certification, and many doctors weren't even literate.Medicine shows were mostly dominated by men, but live entertainment was seen as a feminine pursuit.Women who were professional actors were often associated with sex work.Medicine showmen sold products without labels, and medical treatment could come from any number of sources.People didn't trust doctors, who often had to have multiple jobs due to the lack of business.This allowed anyone to offer a solution, and everything was marketed like infomercials.
Medical Advancements and Improved Sanitation: How We've Improved Our Health and Longevity: In the past, people had poor medicine and sanitation which made it difficult to prevent and treat diseases. Despite these conditions, humans still survived. Today, with medical advancements and better sanitation, we have a better understanding of how to prevent and treat diseases. It's important to keep striving for improvements in health and safety, so we can all live longer, healthier lives.
In the past, medicine and sanitation were poor and people didn't understand how diseases spread.Quacks would sell ineffective remedies and some doctors even made their patients worse.There was no sanitation and sewage was dumped in the streets.Vermin and disease were everywhere and people hardly bathed.Despite these conditions, the birth rate in America was high.It's amazing humans survived in these conditions! Today, with advancements in medicine and sanitation, we have a better understanding of how to prevent and treat diseases.We should keep striving to improve our health and safety, so we can all live longer, healthier lives.
Deceptive Tactics of Medicine Shows in the Past: In the past, medicine shows used misleading tactics to sell their products, such as claiming vague symptoms were caused by tapeworms and selling remedies containing turpentine. Some even sold pills with string inside, claiming they treated tapeworms. It's important to be cautious and informed when considering any health remedies or supplements.
During the time when health and wellness was not well-understood, medicine shows would use deceptive tactics to sell their products.For instance, one showman named Thomas Kelly would line the edge of his stage with jars of pickled tapeworms and would claim that vague symptoms were caused by tapeworms.He would then sell his Shamrock Tapeworm Remover for $7, which is equivalent to $190 today.Though he didn't sell anything specific, most tonics contained turpentine, which made them smell like medicine.Some medicine showmen even sold pills with tightly wound-up string in them, claiming that they were pills to treat tapeworms.
The Dark History of Patent Medicine and Its Lasting Impact on Advertisements Today: Before regulations were in place, many medicines were falsely marketed as a cure for anything and employed deceptive tactics that are still used today. Some even contained dangerous drugs like heroin and chloroform, and were marketed to children. This history serves as a cautionary tale and a reminder of the importance of consumer protection.
In the past, patent medicine was heavily advertised and sold as a cure for anything without any regulation.Anyone could file a patent or trademark for anything and sell it as a cure for anything else.These medicines were heavily advertised and used tactics that are still used today, like limited edition sales and nagging consumers.Some of these medicines contained regulated substance such as heroin, morphine and chloroform, and were advertised to kids.This lack of regulation led to the blueprint for a bunch of advertising tactics that we still see today.
How the Development of Patent Medicines Opened the Door for Appropriation and Disregard of Indigenous Culture: The exploitation and fetishization of indigenous cultures and medicine is a harmful practice that perpetuates historic injustices. It's important to acknowledge this harm and work towards genuine allyship and understanding, rather than only revering indigenous cultures without addressing their true experiences and needs.
During the late 1800s, many products we still use today were developed as patent medicines and heavily advertised to the public.However, as trust in medicine was low, there was an opening for considering alternative remedies, particularly those developed by indigenous people.This led to the fetishization of indigenous cultures and their medicine, even as the genocidal destruction of these cultures was taking place.This continues to be a problem today with non-indigenous people revering indigenous cultures but disregarding their true experiences and needs.It's important to recognize the harm caused by this fetishization and work towards genuine allyship and understanding.
The True Story of Snake Oil: A History of Deception and Discovery: Snake oil, originally used by Chinese immigrants for pain relief, was genuinely effective. But American entrepreneurs exploited its popularity, with some using mineral oil instead of real snake oil. The legacy of deceptive marketing continues to this day, but not all health trends are fraudulent. Don't dismiss all health trends outright without doing research.
In the 1800s, Chinese immigrant workers used snake oil as a natural remedy for aches and pains caused by building the Transcontinental Railroad.American entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to make money and started boiling different kinds of snakes to create their own version of snake oil.However, unlike other patent medicines, snake oil was actually a real thing that worked as a painkiller when rubbed on the skin.The term "snake oil salesman" came from men like Clark Stanley, who deceptively used mineral oil to make their snake oil more potent.This discovery challenges the assumption that all previous health crazes were ineffective scams.
The Truth Behind the Infamous "Snake Oil Salesman: Don't believe everything you hear; research before buying into a product. While the snake oil of the past was fraudulent, actual snake oil contains a potent omega-3 fatty acid. Be wary of claims without evidence and always do your research before investing in products.
The term "snake oil salesman" originated from a man named Stanley who claimed to have a cure-all snake oil made from real rattlesnakes.However, when the US government seized his "snake oil," they found that it was actually just mineral oil, red pepper, turpentine, and a small amount of fatty oil.But interestingly, it wasn't until 1989 that researchers discovered that actual snake oil contained a potent omega-3 fatty acid.So while the snake oil sold by most salesmen in the past was fraudulent, there was a grain of truth to the effectiveness of actual snake oil.The lesson here is to be wary of claims without evidence and to do your research before buying into something.
The Evolution of Medical Regulation in the US: In the early 1900s, regulations for medical practitioners and medicines began to emerge in the US. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 prohibited the sale of adulterated food and false drugs. By the 1930s, drugstores were commonly available and public awareness of the risks of fake medicines had increased.
In the early 1900s, the medical landscape in the US started to change, with more regulation of certified doctors and skepticism towards patent medicines.In 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act was passed, which prohibited the sale of misbranded or adulterated food and drugs in interstate commerce.This meant that if anything addictive was added to medicine, it had to be listed on the label.By the 1930s, drugstores were more common, allowing for centralized local sources for drugs and more regulation.The prosecution of snake oil salesman Clark Stanley in 1917 was a major turning point, leading to more public awareness of the dangers of fake medicines.
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and its Impact on American History: The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 marked a turning point in regulating the redlining of dishonest salespeople who sold worthless or even dangerous "medicines." By requiring manufacturers to list all active ingredients and make only supportable claims, the Act resulted in better-educated consumers, the end of medicine shows, and protected indigenous peoples from harmful profiteers. However, we still need to be vigilant today against similar tactics used to sell unproven or even harmful health products.
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 mandated the creation of the FDA and regulated the claims of patent medicine, resulting in better educated consumers and the end of medicine shows in the 1960s.The Act required manufacturers to list all active ingredients and make only supportable claims.The Act marked a turning point in American history, regulating the redlining of the snake oil salesman and profiteers who profited off indigenous peoples and wore black and brown face to sell you heroin under the guise of medicine.The playbook for selling garbage health shit that doesn't work is still being used today.
The Importance of Updating and Evaluating Regulations to Prevent Scams and Fake Products: Regulations must be constantly monitored and improved to protect consumers from scammers and fake products. Consumers shouldn't bear the responsibility of navigating a market filled with scams. Protecting consumers requires vigilance and surveillance, and reversing the effects of lax regulation is difficult. Regulations must not only exist on paper but must serve their intended purpose.
Regulations need to be constantly updated and evaluated to ensure that they are effective in preventing scams and fake products from infiltrating the market.The human desire for miracle cures and desperation for relief from ailments will always be present, and scammers will take advantage of this.If regulations fail, it becomes the consumer's responsibility to navigate the market, which is not feasible or fair.Vigilance and surveillance are necessary to protect consumers, and reversing the effects of lax regulation is difficult.We need to ensure that regulations are not just on paper but also serving their intended purpose.
