Friday, April 19, 2013





OLD WEST MEDICINE SHOWS

By Laurie Kingery



Hello Christian Fiction Historical Society readers! For my spot this month I'd like to discuss the old-fashioned medicine shows that sold patent medicines and so-called miracle elixirs in small towns across America, and especially in the old west during the 1800's. My interest in this subject stems from research I did for a character in a future "Brides of Simpson Creek" series book for my publisher, Love Inspired Historicals. As my story (title yet to be thrashed out with my publisher <g>) begins, my hero, Nate Bohannan, is an assistant to an unscrupulous medicine show man who arrives in Simpson Creek to sell his so-called "Cherokee Marvelous Elixir" to the credulous of the town, make a profit, and skedaddle. Robert Salali uses all the tricks of the quintessential snake oil salesman, the supposed connection to arcane Native American lore, the energetic pitch full of hyperbole and claims to miracle cures, the fake testimonials from supposedly satisfied customers who've been relieved of an unbelievable list of ailments ranging from the everyday catarrhs, piles, and dropsies to the psychiatric, hysteria, catatonia and the like. 
                                                                    

These medicine show pitchmen, frequently addressed as "Professor" or "Doctor" were also known as "snake oil salesmen." "Snake Oil" has come to represent any sort of fraudulent concoction, and its purveyor a charlatan.  One famous snake oil salesman was cowboy Clark Stanley, who supposedly used snakes slaughtered back in Abilene, Texas. Snake Oil when used topically (on the skin) actually did promote some comfort from sore muscles and aching bones, but taken internally, it could cause great harm. When Stanley's products were seized in 1917 and analyzed, it was found to contain only beef fat, kerosene, red pepper, turpentine and camphor, but not a trace of real snake oil. Ironically, "patent medicines" usually were not patented at all, but trademarked.
                                                                   


Medicine shows frequently involved musical acts to attract the interest of passersby from as far away as possible, demonstrations by a "muscle man" of amazing strength, supposedly due to the elixir, horsemanship acts, pow-wows, and invocations to dark spirits. The more organized shows, sent out from the East on various routes simultaneously, involved real Indians, frequently Kickapoos who had supposedly divulged the secret recipes of their concoctions for the good of mankind, but even the one-man shows frequently claimed to be using Indian recipes.
The pitchmen had often planted shills within the crowd who, when the Professor called for "unsolicited testamonials," would come to the front and testify how the elixir had helped them. The pitchman would also offer to demonstrate the miraculous powers of the elixir, and fake "victims" would come forward, hobbling with supposed lameness, for example, only to be "cured" by whatever potion the medicine man was peddling.
                                                                 


The potions often contained a sizeable percentage of alcohol, and even more dangerous ingredients such as turpentine, calomel (a popular patent medicine of the time containing mercury), morphine, opium and cocaine. But many other patent medicines were safe and later became branded items such as Listerine, Milk of Magnesia, Bayer Aspirin, and Vix Vapo-rub.

Doctors, such as my hero in THE DOCTOR TAKES A WIFE (Love Inspired Historicals, 2011) were critical of the dangerous kinds of patent medicines, and they finally won the battle in 1906 when the Pure Food and Drug Act was passed into law, which required ingredients to be listed on the container and made misleading advertising illegal. In 1938 another law was passed that required testing of a product for safety before it was sold. In 1968 tests for effectiveness were required.

I hope you've enjoyed this look at medicine shows of the 1800's and their pitchmen. I'm obliged to Kathy Wieser of LegendsofAmerica.com for her information and the use of the first picture and the picture below. Another great reference is Lotions, Potions and Deadly Elixirs by Wayne Bethard.
                                                                              


                           Blessings, Laurie Kingery

18 comments:

  1. I truly enjoyed this post. So fascinating. I could never understand how anyone could be fooled by these snake oil salesmen, especially Christians. But, I suppose they used to put on quite the show. Thanks for sharing and God bless.

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  2. I find this fascinating. And sad, how desperate folks were taken advantage of by men with no scruples. I can just see a mother spending her last dime to help her ailing child. And yet, how ironic that people fall into the same types of cons even in our modern and enlightened age. Great post!

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    1. Kathleen, thanks, and you make a really good point. Many do still fall prey to modern-day charlatans like the old medicine show men, despite the Pure Food and Drug Act and other laws in place to protect us. Exotic cancer cures come to mind...:/

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  3. Very interesting - so glad we have ingredient listings now! Not so sure I would have liked to try those so called miracle cures. I suppose in some ways, we do try alot of 'home remedies' that might fall into the same category as some of the 'cures' you mentioned above....lol

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    1. Hi Betz, thanks for commenting! At least we have some really good remedies that came out of all this, such as aspirin.

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  4. Interesting post today, thanks for all your info of a bygone era. I have read of Lydia Pinkham before and her little pills...always enjoy stopping by to see what the historical post will be and the author. thanks for sharing.
    Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)

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    1. Paula, we're glad you're enjoying our blog! Thanks!

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  5. I find it very interesting to learn about the medicines back then...so sad that some people didn't make it because of cures they didn't know about yet...I'm a big fan of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman and it's always interesting to learn about the past. truckredford(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Eliza, thanks for commenting. Now if we could just find a cure for cancer and the other diseases that still menace us...Far too many of them are aided by the ways we don't take care of ourselves (including myself here).

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  6. Great information, I didn't realize that tests for effectiveness weren't required by law until 1968. I guess that is why I'm always skeptical and don't believe what I hear on TV about the effectiveness of certain products. I was already an adult before that law was passed. I don't know exactly what that law mandates. I think we still need to research products, because I'm sure there are ways to subvert it.

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    1. Right, Kay--I don't think herbal products have the same degree of regulation at all. And then there's all the hype about "regular" medicines...Thanks for commenting

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  7. Fascinating! Just another thing that makes me ponder life "back in the day"!! Excellent Post, ThankU!

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    1. Nanette, thank YOU for commenting! We appreciate our faithful readers.

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  8. Enjoyed your post - have often wondered if any of those medicine show elixirs really worked, not surprised that some of them actually did - as I know there are many simple medical remedies (from common household ingredients) from the past that do work, but we seldom hear anything about them because they are inexpensive & don't make any money for the drug manufacturers. Thanks for verifying some of the patent medicines that became branded items.

    bonnieroof60@yahoo.com

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  9. Fascinating post, Laurie. I found it interesting that some of those potions became well known salves or drugstore items we use today. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. We always want to believe there is something out there that will fix our problems, and I guess it was no different back then!

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  11. What an interesting glimpse into history you've provided, Laurie. Medicine Shows seem to have uniquely American. I love knowing how Listerine, Milk of Magnesia, Bayer Aspirin, and Vix Vapo-rub got their start!

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  12. What a fun read. :) I'm such a pessimist I always wonder if anything someone is selling is real today!
    Susan

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