Snake oil

Posted by Bruce Kahl on May 29, 2005

In Reply to: Snake oil posted by David FG on May 29, 2005

: : Snake oil: can someone please help with an explanantion of the origins of this?

: I believe it dates from the days when travelling 'salesmen' (conmen would be a better description) would go from town to town selling patent 'medicines' alleged to cure everything from baldness to ingrowing toenails. Apparently these concoctions would often be claimed to have been distilled or whatever from snakes. I have no idea why.

: Hence 'snake oil' is a quack cure-all.

: DFG

The link below may give you some insight on the origins of snake oil.

[Dead link - removed]

• Snake oil David FG 29/May/05