How snake oil got a bad rap

See:

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/how-snake-oil-got-a-bad-rap/

Article reads: Well, hucksters that sold patent or proprietary medicine caught wind of the miraculous muscle-soothing powers of snake oil. Naturally, they decided to sell their own versions of snake oil—but it was just much easier to forgo using actual snakes.