Quackery in medicine is as old as medicine itself. In times of crisis, desperate patients often believe extraordinary claims. In the annals of pain-killer quack medicine, snake oil, elixirs, nostrums and Indian liniments hold a prominent position. NYU College of Dentistry has a collection of 234 bottles of such medicines dating from the mid-1800s through 1940. Electric Indian Liniment used both the term “electric” to denote something acting fast, and “Indian” to elude to the healing power of Native American Medicine. Many quack medications were linked to fraud, overdose, addiction or sometimes death. In 1906, Congress enacted The Pure Food and Drug Act and reinforced it in 1938, to stop unsubstantiated medicinal claims and control the use of addictive and dangerous substances. Description provided by Andrew I Spielman
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