Snake Oil
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[edit] Definition
[edit] Snake oil in the West
The following is an example of an advertisement for "Quintessence of Vipers" as it appeared in Baldwin's Weekly Journal of 1772:
- The true Cordial Quintessence of Vipers
- The most noble and grand Preparation in the whole Materia Medica, for the real substantial Cure of Impotency in Men and Barrenness in Women, and is vastly preferable to Viper Wine or any other preparation of Viper whatsoever as being replete with the full and whole Virtues of them.
- A few Days of it only give such a general Warmth, and so exceedingly delight the Vital and Animal Spirits, Senses and Nerves, as soon to show what it will do upon a little Continuance of it; for it not only promotes and prompts Desire, but also furnishes proper Matter for the Support and Establishment of a true and lasting Power and Inclination. Price 10s. 6d. a bottle.
This piece gives us a little snapshot of the trade in snake oil. We can see from this that there were many rival brands: "Viper Wine" and "other preparation[s] of Viper". Yet despite fierce competition, the sum being charged is huge: ten shillings and sixpence per bottle is a little more than a British working man of the same period could earn in a week.
In modern times, snake oil has lost its vogue in the West, partly because of the negative associations acquired by the phrase "snake oil", and partly because, while it would still be possible to sell snake oil as a "health supplement" or suchlike, modern advertising standards would mean that the stuff would actually have to be made out of snakes, which are difficult animals either to catch in the wild or to raise commercially.
[edit] Snake oil in the East
In China, the fat of watersnakes is taken (internally) to relieve arthritis and joint pain. The fat of Chinese watersnakes is known to be high in eicosapentaenic acid, a pain reliever[1], so it may well be that Chinese snake oil is actually effective for this purpose.
