Where did “snake oil” originate?
Robert Tignor
Independence, Missouri
“Snake oil” comes from 19th-century Chinese railroad workers who used medicine made from the Chinese water snake. The stuff worked; rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, it effectively treated conditions such as arthritis and bursitis. Americans were amazed by its healing powers.
The term took on a new meaning when phony patent medicines promised to cure every disease known to man. Made up of mostly alcohol, this snake oil
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