# Modern day snake oil ( Hadicol) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 27, 1999, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619 "1999-12-27T04:19:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 1999, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/1 "1999-12-27T04:19:00Z")
Anyone out there remember a medicinal product call Hadicol? Maybe late 50’s. I think it might have been an offshoot of Geritol and it seems like it was prescribed for nervousness. I can’t remember if it was over the counter or prescription but it must have been a modern day snake oil because I don’t ever see or hear of it anymore. Anyway does anyone remember it and if so what was in that stuff? * * * Of course that’s just my opinion I could be wrong. Dennis Miller ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 1999, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/2 "1999-12-27T05:51:00Z")
I don’t remember it, but Martin Gardner mentions it at the end of chapter 18 of his book “Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science” (1957): > [@](#): > > …Hadacol, a cure-all vitamin and mineral tonic that smells and tastes terrible, but is high in alcohol content. > > Groucho Marx, on his radio program a few years ago, interviewed the inventor of Hadacol, Louisiana State Senator Dudley J. LeBlanc. When Groucho asked him what Hadacol was good for, LeBlanc gave an answer of startling honesty. “It was good,” the senator said, “for five and a half million for me last year.” ---
**Author:** ![Crystalguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Crystalguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crystalguy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 1999, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/3 "1999-12-27T11:21:00Z")
I remember that there was a semi-popular song called “Hadacol Boogie” sometime in the early 1950s. I believe that “Hadacol” was promoted by Col. Tom Parker, the same man who promoted Elvis Presley, but I am not positive about this. * * * Crystalguy ---
**Author:** ![egkelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/db5fbb/32.png) [@egkelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/egkelly)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 1999, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/4 "1999-12-27T16:39:00Z")
HADICOL has not been available for many years-something about the FDA making them stop claiming medicinal powers for this junk. However, I’m mystified by the amount of drugs that can be sold legally, as long as they issue a disclaimer! Take these (worthless)homeopathic medicines-they all say “not intended to diagnose or cure any disease”…as long as you state this, apparently you can sell anything! ---
**Author:** ![Welldigger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f6c823/32.png) [@Welldigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welldigger)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 1999, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/5 "1999-12-28T13:24:00Z")
I don’t have my copy handy, but you can find some more information about it in the biography of Hank Williams, Sr. written by Colin Escot. * * * Welldigger “The harder I work, the deeper I go in the hole” visit my homepage Japan from the Driver’s Seat www.sunfield.ne.jp/~mike/ ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 1999, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/6 "1999-12-28T15:51:00Z")
egkelly said: > [@](#): > > I’m mystified by the amount of drugs that can be sold legally, as long as they issue a disclaimer! Take these (worthless)homeopathic medicines-they all say “not intended to diagnose or cure any disease”…as long as you state this, apparently you can sell anything! Blame Congress. They passed an exemption for “nutritional supplements” so the FDA can’t regulate them. So if you sell something and call it by that term, you’re ok, as long as you don’t make _specific_ claims about it. So instead, you get some guy to write a book about the benefits of Dandelions and then put out Dandelion Nutritional Supplements to aid those who don’t have enough dandelion in their diets. What a scam… ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 1999, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/7 "1999-12-28T16:03:00Z")
The Treniers had a hit single back in 1952 called “Hadacol (That’s All).” From the CD booklet THEY ROCK! THEY ROLL! THEY SWING! THE BEST OF THE TRENIERS (Legacy Rhythm & Soul Series, Okeh Records): “The Okeh Treniers recordings contain some of the most wondrous rock ‘n’ roll ever made…including ‘Hadacol (That’s All),’ which stands as the best of a slew of wry celebrations, white and black, of the notorious alcoholic patent medicine of that name.” The song alludes to a number of persons who invest their refreshment/entertainment dollars in Hadacol rather than more customary alcoholic drinks, swallow the bottle whole, and engage in various hi-jinks. * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 1999, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/8 "1999-12-28T16:05:00Z")
(We’re thinking of adopting it as the official theme song of the NYC Straight Dope contingent.) * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 1999, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/9 "1999-12-28T19:08:00Z")
Scam or no, I think one _should_ be allowed to sell just about anything-- as long as clear warnings and disclaimers are on the label. Why not? Personally, I am addicted to **Dametol** : \*Can’t relax? Too tense? Scary world? No sense? Spouse mean? Boss a jerk? Hate your home? Hate work? When you’re beaten down to a crawl– When you feel like blowing up a mall– Don’t fret, say “DAMETOL!” Fear not, say “DAMETOL!” Tell your doctor: “DAMETOL!” You’ll rely on: “DAMETOL!” All together now: “DAMETOL!”\* (use only as directed. not intended as a solution to personal problems. may cause dry mouth, apathy, dependency, dizziness, drowsiness, sluggishness, euphoria, malaise, stupor, unconsciousness, coma, or death; if you experience these symptoms, discontinue use. alcohol may intensify effects, so wash down with a few shots of liquor to help buzz kick in) ---
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 1999, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/10 "1999-12-28T19:34:00Z")
What is that sneezy,stuffyhead,so-I-can-rest medicine? I can’t remember the name of it but the I remember looking at it on the shelf one time and the Daytime version of it contained 24% alcohol. You bet that will make a body rest! * * * Of course that’s just my opinion I could be wrong. Dennis Miller ---
**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 1999, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/11 "1999-12-28T23:55:00Z")
Aha, I have the nightime version “Original” Nyquil in front of me and it says 10% alcohol. Anyone have the daytime version, amd its’ alcohol content in their cabinet ? ---
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 1999, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/12 "1999-12-29T00:14:00Z")
Funnee you are probably right at 10% but shheett 10% is more than alot of wines isn’t it? * * * Of course that’s just my opinion I could be wrong. Dennis Miller ---
**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 1999, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/13 "1999-12-29T00:27:00Z")
Actually about the same as wines. I’ve got a Merlot that’s 12.5% and a Red that’s 11%. Then again I don’t go drinking Nyquil by the glassfull, I usually just use the 2 Tablespoon cup provided. ---
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 1999, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/14 "1999-12-29T00:35:00Z")
Funnee: > [@](#): > > I usually just use the 2 Tablespoon cup provided yep I don’t blame you however it seems to me that in the early 80’s the alcohol content was higher. I read somewhere during this time that alcoholics were buying nyquill to satisfy their addictions and nyquill reduced the alcohol content, but that’s another thread altogether. * * * Of course that’s just my opinion I could be wrong. Dennis Miller ---
**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 1999, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-snake-oil-hadicol/5619/15 "1999-12-29T01:28:00Z")
Could very well be. Wouldn’t be the first time a corporation changed a formula due to bad PR. Another aside, when I was in college they used to put all sorts of interesting over the counter stuff (including Nyquil) into the punch at parties. Always made for some ummm interesting situations. Fortunatly for me I stuck to the name brands and not the cheap stuff someone else tossed together.