ACCORDING to Bernard E. Read's 1931 encyclopedia Animal Drugs, tigers form a major part of traditional Chinese medicine, with everything from the nose to the faeces being used to treat a host of ailments. There are believed to be other, more diverse tiger products, but the ones listed are recognised as the parts with more traditional medicinal uses. Bones: for removing all kinds of evil influence, devil possession and calming fright. In different forms for rheumatism, muscle cramps, rat bites, ulcers, abdominal pains, typhoid, malaria, hydrophobia, chronic dysentery and burns.
Fat: for all kinds of vomiting, dog bites and bleeding haemorrhoids. When melted, it aids scabs and baldness in children.
Flesh: for nausea, malaria, improving vitality, as a tonic for the stomach, and eye and rectal diseases. With an earthy, acidic taste, which is eaten when salted although not good for the teeth, it can be used as a talisman against 36 kinds of demons.
Blood: to build up the constitution and strengthen willpower.
Stomach: to cure vomiting and stomach problems.
Bile: convulsions and 'Kan' dysentery.
Testes: scrofula.