Posted by Noa on January 13, 2003, at 18:13:06
In reply to Re: Cod liver oil, posted by HenryO on January 13, 2003, at 2:19:43
I was thinking something similar about old folk remedies like cod liver oil. My only exposure to cod liver oil is from watching old tv broadcasts of The Little Rascals, which I think is from the 30s and 40s--remember how they had to get their cod liver oil? I have to ask my mom and dad if they had to take it as kids.
It also makes me think of "snake oil salesmen", which is now used as a euphemism for the kind of con-artist sales person. In old movies, like The Rain Maker, the snake oil salesman traveled around trying to sell snake oil as a panacea to all that ails you.
Now I wonder if the idea of snake oil didn't originate from someone's experience that it did help people feel better.
About the cod liver oil, though....is it possible it was used as a kind of laxative like mineral oil was?
poster:Noa
thread:135380
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030113/msgs/135725.html