Snake Oil & Morphine: Wild West Travelling Medicine Shows...

What this episode covers

Step right up! In this episode, we dive into the raucous world of Wild West traveling medicine shows—part vaudeville, part medieval quackery, and all about the drugs. From narcotic-laced “cures” to the birth of the phrase “snake oil,” we trace how these spectacles peddled more than entertainment—and left their mark on drug history.Sources:Ann Anderson: Snake Oil, Hustlers and Hambones Smithsonian: Hamlin’s Wizard Oil LinimentThe Henry Ford Collection: Dr. F.G. Johnson’s French Female PillsAmerican Institute of the History of Pharmacy: Kickapoo Indian Medicine CompanySauk County History: Traveling Medicine Shows of Yesteryear

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How long is this episode of Pills and Power?

This episode is 52 minutes long.

When was this Pills and Power episode published?

This episode was published on July 30, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Step right up! In this episode, we dive into the raucous world of Wild West traveling medicine shows—part vaudeville, part medieval quackery, and all about the drugs. From narcotic-laced “cures” to the birth of the phrase “snake oil,” we trace how...

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