Where does the phrase "blowing smoke up someone's ass" originate from historically?

The phrase "blowing smoke up someone's ass" historically originates from the practice of smoke enemas, which were used as a method to resuscitate drowning victims or to determine if someone was dead. In the 18th and 19th centuries, medical practitioners used this method to introduce tobacco smoke into the rectum as a means to stimulate respiration in patients who were believed to be dead or in a state of suspended animation. This rather bizarre technique was thought to revive the individual by stimulating the body in a way that might restore bodily functions.

The context of this practice provides a grim but direct link to the phrase. It connects the act of "blowing smoke" to a literal scenario where there was a serious intention behind the strange method. Over time, the phrase evolved into its modern usage, which is often more metaphorical and dismissive, reflecting a sense of deception or insincerity rather than its original context of medical practice.

The other options do not accurately depict the historical origin of the phrase, as they either do not relate directly to the medical practices of the time or misinterpret the cultural significance of the phrase itself.