Ep.4 Snake Oil

Once the symbol of fraud and false promises, “snake oil” wasn’t always a scam. In fact, it started as a genuine medicinal remedy brought to America by Chinese laborers in the 1800s. So how did a legitimate treatment become shorthand for quackery? In this episode of The History Of, we uncover the real story behind snake oil, from railroad workers and traveling salesmen to patent medicine empires and modern-day miracle cures.

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The History Of is your daily dose of weird, wonderful, and occasionally ridiculous history. Each episode takes one topic an object, a place, a job, a trend and unpacks the surprising story behind it. No homework, no boring lectures, just history you’ll actually want to share.


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