Donkeys slaughtered for skin

[Catherine]

You are right. It is a specific kind of superstition that believes odd animal parts can heal human ailments. I can't imagine how some ideas got started. Unless it was all started by a con artist. A handful of cat whiskers become tiger whiskers and they suddenly have special healing properties. I can't think of why anyone would try bear gall bladder in the first place. 

I suppose that is the nature of superstitions, they make no rational sense.