Talking about the United Society of True Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing – a religious group commonly known as Shakers -- doesn't mean this is an episode about religion. They were disciplined and hard-working, and they were also innovative -- a good combination of characteristics that helped them finance their communal lives in a few successful ways. Their most successful business didn’t come from their famous furniture or inventions like the clothes pin, though. It was their knowledge of herbs and their practice of botanical medicine -- and what it was like for them to practice patent medicine in a time of snake oil sales.

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Daffy's Elixir was one of the most popular patent medicines in Britain -- and it sold for nearly 300 years, which is amazing considering these types of products were often a flash in a pan. But what makes this product different than others we’ve talked about this snake oil season, other than its longevity, is that its ingredients list wasn’t kept secret -- it was a novel idea to publish ingredients for patent medicines at a time when most products didn’t even put that information on the label. And manufacturers seemed to be okay with that -- maybe because no one could actually prove ownership.

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According to the Vermont State Pharmacy Association in 1921, quote: "Dr. Kilmer's SWAMP-ROOT Kidney, Liver and Bladder Medicine … is a medicine of genuine merit. Thousands of letters we have received from druggists indicate that it has won the confidence of the people. We believe that the druggist who recommends it thereby helps his own reputation for reliability and truthfulness as his customer is usually satisfied with the results obtained from the use of Swamp-Root. …[The] preparation … is made upon honor and always kept up to its high standard of purity and excellence." They weren’t wrong; Swamp-Root was a very popular patent medicine product. But … made with honor? A reputation for … truthfulness? Aren’t we in snake oil season? Let’s meet this Dr. Kilmer and the Kilmer family, and talk about how Swamp-Root made them a ton of money.

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