Snake oil and other unscrupulous cure-alls

One of the reasons Mayberry was such a great town to live in was because there were few serious illnesses. While Floyd the barber and Howard Sprague had sinus problems and Opie had his tonsils removed, few others had any ailments. Of course, Emma Brandt sometimes got “a pain,” which would travel up one arm, around her neck, and down the other arm.

However, just because Mayberry was a healthy place, this did not mean that con artists did not attempt to take advantage of Mayberry’s good people. One such con artist was Colonel Harvey. He appeared on the streets of Mayberry one day, selling his Indian elixir. Colonel Harvey claimed his Indian elixir would purge the body and cleanse the spirit, making one feel young again. Unfortunately, Aunt Bee purchased two bottles and took them to her ladies’ church gathering, only to discover the elixir was almost one hundred percent alcohol.

Opie and his friends once tried to win a pony by selling Miracle Salve. The salve was supposed to cure crow’s feet and other problems. However, the boys soon discovered Miracle Salve was worthless and impossible to sell. But Barney and Gomer conceived a scheme to help Opie and his friends return the salve to the company that pawned it to the boys.

Fake cures have been around for centuries. One of the early “magical cures” was something called Snake Oil. In 19th century America, many people bought Snake Oil. The tonic, which contained oil extracted from rattlesnakes, was said to cure their ailments. While Snake Oil is no longer available, “snake oil” is often used to describe peddlers who sell their worthless products.

People in the 19th century often turned to “quackery” products because traditional medical treatments were either unavailable or too expensive. By 1906 over 100 Bills were introduced to control food and drug products to stop the sale of useless and harmful health products—however, none of the bills passed. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, cocaine and opium were used casually and often added to bottled medicines and beverages despite doctors knowing they were very addictive.

Although we no longer have to deal with medicine sold at sideshows, this does not mean we are exempt from unscrupulous tactics when it comes to healthcare products. The internet and social media sites contain all types of ads that promise miraculous cures for many ailments. The intent is the same as the snake oil con artists; only the methods have changed. Consumers need to be vigilant when reading all the claims that products make.

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