If somebody names something “snake oil,” do you know what it means? The term “snake oil” means a fraudulent remedy or scam. Let’s delve into a real story about its origin.
In the mid-1800s, Chinese laborers working on the American railroads brought with them a traditional remedy — oil made from Chinese water snakes. Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, it genuinely helped ease joint and muscle pain.
Curious Americans tried it, but soon, opportunistic salesmen started selling fake versions made of alcohol, turpentine, and spices, falsely claiming they could cure anything. In 1917, U.S. authorities tested Clark Stanley’s Snake Oil Liniment and found no snake oil at all.From that moment, “snake oil salesman” became a byword for fraud and false promises. Ironically, the original Chinese snake oil worked — it was the imitation that turned it into a joke.
So when someone says, “That’s snake oil,” they’re not talking about medicine, but about anything too good to be true.
In the mid-1800s, Chinese laborers working on the American railroads brought with them a traditional remedy — oil made from Chinese water snakes. Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, it genuinely helped ease joint and muscle pain.
Curious Americans tried it, but soon, opportunistic salesmen started selling fake versions made of alcohol, turpentine, and spices, falsely claiming they could cure anything. In 1917, U.S. authorities tested Clark Stanley’s Snake Oil Liniment and found no snake oil at all.From that moment, “snake oil salesman” became a byword for fraud and false promises. Ironically, the original Chinese snake oil worked — it was the imitation that turned it into a joke.
So when someone says, “That’s snake oil,” they’re not talking about medicine, but about anything too good to be true.
Sukee’s Notes: The story came from my recent reading of the book, “AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference”, in which the authors discussed the hype around AI technology.