In the old west, sharp operators often sold “Medicine” advertised as genuine “Snake Oil” that was reputed to be good for whatever ails ya. Usually these concoctions contained opium and/or cocaine. These ingredients couldn’t cure anything but made people feel good for a short time. Eventually, Snake Oil customers became addicted to the ingredients insuring that they would keep buying the stuff.
Do City Slickers still sell Snake Oil?
A different form of Snake Oil takes the form of a patented drug that’s no better than a generic but sells for ten times the price. The power of advertising.
Coca Cola, which has a secret formula, originally contained addictive cocaine. Now it contains another addictive and toxic ingredient, sugar. There are 12+ ounces of sugar in a 16 ounce of Coke–not exactly a health drink. Old timer, I know you are also a medicine man (doctor). Would you consider Coke to be “snake oil?”
All true about Coca Cola ranger Terry. Although “Snake Oil” has one additional characteristic; It promises to cure you of something. Coke doesn’t do that but it’s not as good as fresh river water (as long as you don’t drink downstream from the herd).