Shabbat 110
בַּר קַשָּׁא דְפוּמְבְּדִיתָא דְּטַרְקֵיהּ חִיוְיָא, הֲוָה תְּלֵיסְרֵי חֲמָרֵי חִיוָּרָתָא בְּפוּמְבְּדִיתָא, קַרְעִינְהוּ לְכוּלְּהוּ, וְאִישְׁתְּכַחוּ טְרֵיפָה. הֲוַאי חֲדָא בְּהָהוּא גִּיסָא דְּפוּמְבְּדִיתָא, עַד דְּאָזְלִי מַיְיתִי לַהּ אַכְלַהּ אַרְיָא. אֲמַר לְהוּ אַבָּיֵי: דִילְמָא חִיוְיָא דְּרַבָּנַן טַרְקֵיהּ, דְּלֵית לֵיהּ אָסְוָתָא, דִּכְתִיב: ״וּפֹרֵץ גָּדֵר יִשְּׁכֶנּוּ נָחָשׁ״. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: אִין רַבִּי, דְּכִי נָח נַפְשֵׁיהּ דְּרַב, גְּזַר רַב יִצְחָק בַּר בִּיסְנָא דְּלֵיכָּא דְּלַימְטֵי אַסָּא וְגִידְמֵי לְבֵי הִילּוּלָא [בְּטַבְלָא], וַאֲזַל אִיהוּ אַמְטִי אַסָּא וְגִידְמֵי לְבֵי הִילּוּלָא בְּטַבְלָא. טַרְקֵיהּ חִיוְיָא, וּמִית.
Jewish official in Pumbedita that was bitten by a snake. There were thirteen white donkeys in Pumbedita and they tore them all open and they were found to be tereifot. There was one donkey on the other side of Pumbedita, and until they went to bring it, a lion ate it. Abaye said to them: Since all of these things have happened, perhaps a snake of the Rabbis bit him, for which there is no cure, as it is written: “One that digs a pit will fall into it, and one who breaches a fence will be bitten by a snake” (Ecclesiastes 10:8). Perhaps this person violated a rabbinic decree, also known as a fence, and was bitten by a snake as punishment. That bite has no cure. They said to him: Yes, my teacher, it is so, as when Rav died Rav Yitzḥak bar Bisna ruled that one may not bring myrtle and palm branches to a wedding hall to accompany bells, and he went and brought myrtle and palm branches to the wedding hall with bells. Therefore, a snake bit him. And it is reported that ultimately the official died.
הַאי מַאן דְּכַרְכֵיהּ חִיוְיָא — לִינְחוֹת לְמַיָּא וְלִיסְחוֹף דִּיקּוּלָא אַרֵישֵׁיהּ וּלְהַדְּקֵיהּ מִינֵּיהּ, וְכִי סָלֵיק עִילָּוֵיהּ — לִישְׁדְּיֵהּ לְמַיָּא וְלִיסְלוֹק וְלֵיתֵי. הַאי מַאן דְּמִיקַּנֵּי בֵּיהּ חִיוְיָא, אִי אִיכָּא חַבְרֵיהּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ — לַירְכְּבֵיהּ אַרְבַּע גַּרְמִידֵי, וְאִי לָא — לִישְׁוַאר נִגְרָא, וְאִי לָא — לִיעְבַּר נַהֲרָא, וּבְלֵילְיָא — לוֹתְבֵיהּ לְפֻרְיֵהּ — אַאַרְבַּע חָבְיָתָא, וְנִיגְנֵי בֵּי כוֹכְבֵי, וְלַיְיתֵי אַרְבְּעָה שׁוּנָּרֵי וְלֵיסְרִינְהוּ בְּאַרְבְּעָה כַּרְעֵי דְפוּרְיֵיהּ, וְלַיְתֵי שַׁחֲפֵי וְלִישְׁדֵּי הָתָם, דְּכִי שָׁמְעִי קָלֵיהּ אָכְלִי לֵיהּ. הַאי מַאן דְּרָהֵיט אַבָּתְרֵיהּ — לִירְהוֹט בֵּי חָלָתָא.
The Gemara cites additional information about the dangers posed by snakes and how to deal with them. One whom a snake encircled should descend into water and place a basket on his head and remove the snake slowly from him into the basket. And once the snake goes into the basket, let him throw it into the water and climb and emerge. One at whom a snake is angry and is being pursued by a snake, if he has another with him, let him ride him four cubits. And if not, let him jump over a ditch. And if not, let him cross a river. And at night let him place his bed on four barrels and sleep outside beneath the stars. And let one bring four cats and let one tie them to the four legs of the bed. And let one bring twigs and branches and throw them there so that when the cats hear the sound of the snake crawling they will eat it. One who is being pursued by a snake, let him run in sand because a snake cannot move as quickly in sand as a person can.
הַאי אִיתְּתָא דְּחָזְיָא חִיוְיָא, וְלָא יָדְעָה אִי יָהֵיב דַּעְתֵּיהּ עִילָּוַהּ אִי לָא יָהֵיב דַּעְתֵּיהּ עִילָּוַהּ — תִּשְׁלַח מָאנַהּ וְתִשְׁדֵּי קַמֵּיהּ, אִי מִכְרַךְ בְּהוּ דַּעְתֵּיהּ עִילָּוַהּ, וְאִי לָא — לָא יָהֵיב דַּעְתֵּיהּ עִילָּוַהּ.
A woman who is seen by a snake and does not know whether it has directed his attention toward her or whether it has not directed his attention toward her, she should remove her garment and throw it before the snake. If the snake wraps itself in the garments, it is an indication that it has directed his attention toward her; and if not, it is an indication that it has not directed his attention toward her.
מַאי תַּקַּנְתֵּהּ תְּשַׁמֵּשׁ קַמֵּיהּ. אִיכָּא דְאָמְרִי: כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן דְּתָקֵיף לֵיהּ יִצְרֵיהּ! אֶלָּא תִּשְׁקוֹל מִמַּזְּיַהּ וּמִטּוּפְרַהּ וְתִשְׁדֵּי בֵּיהּ, וְתֵימָא: ״דִּישְׁתָּנָא אֲנָא״. הַאי אִיתְּתָא דְּעָיֵיל בַּהּ חִיוְיָא, לִיפַסְּעוּהָ וְלוֹתְבוּהָ אַתַּרְתֵּי חָבְיָתָא, וְלַיְתֵי בִּישְׂרָא שַׁמִּינָה וְלִישְׁדֵּי אַגּוּמְרֵי, וְלַיְתֵי אַגָּנָא דְּתַחְלֵי וְחַמְרָא רֵיחְתָנָא וְלוֹתְבוּ הָתָם, וְלִיטְרוֹקִינְהוּ בַּהֲדֵי הֲדָדֵי, וְלִינְקוֹט צְבָתָא בִּידֵהּ, דְּכִי מוֹרַח רֵיחָא — נָפֵיק וְאָתֵי, וְלִישְׁקְלֵיהּ וְלִיקְלְיֵיהּ בְּנוּרָא, דְּאִי לָא — הָדַר עִילָּוַהּ.
What is her remedy so the snake will leave her alone? She should have relations with her husband before the snake. Some say: If she has relations in front of the snake, all the more so that its desire will become stronger. Rather, she should take from her hair and her nails and throw them at the snake, and say the following to it as an incantation: I am a menstruating woman [dishtana]. A woman whom a snake has entered, let them spread her legs and place her on two barrels, and let them bring fatty meat and throw it onto coals. And let them bring her a bowl of cress and fragrant wine and place them there and mix them together. And she should take tongs in her hand, as when the snake smells the fragrance it emerges. And then one should take the snake and burn it in the fire, as if it is not burned, it will come back onto her.
כׇּל הָאוֹכָלִין כּוּ׳. כׇּל הָאוֹכָלִין לְאֵיתוֹיֵי מַאי? לְאֵיתוֹיֵי טְחוֹל לַשִּׁינַּיִם וְכַרְשִׁינִין לִבְנֵי מֵעַיִים. כׇּל הַמַּשְׁקִין לְאֵיתוֹיֵי מַאי? לְאֵיתוֹיֵי מֵי צְלָפִין בְּחוֹמֶץ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבִינָא לְרָבָא: מַהוּ לִשְׁתּוֹת מֵי רַגְלַיִם בְּשַׁבָּת? אֲמַר לֵיהּ, תְּנֵינָא: ״כׇּל הַמַּשְׁקִין שׁוֹתֶה״, וּמֵי רַגְלַיִם לָא שָׁתוּ אִינָשֵׁי.
We learned in the mishna: All types of food that healthy people eat may be eaten by one eating them for medicinal purposes on Shabbat. The Gemara asks: The phrase: All foods, what does it come to include? The Gemara answers: It comes to include spleen for healing teeth and vetch for healing intestines, although they are not common foods. We also learned in the mishna: And one may drink all drinks on Shabbat. The Gemara asks: The phrase: All drinks, what does it come to include? The Gemara answers: It comes to include mixing water in which capers have soaked, with vinegar. Ravina said to Rava: What is the ruling with regard to drinking urine on Shabbat? Rava said to him: We already learned in the mishna: One may drink all drinks, and people do not drink urine and is not considered a drink. It is only consumed for medical purposes and is therefore prohibited.
חוּץ מִמֵּי דְקָלִים. תָּנָא: חוּץ מִמֵּי דְקָרִים. מַאן דִּתְנָא ״מֵי דְקָרִים״ — שֶׁהֵם דּוֹקְרִים אֶת הַמָּרָה, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר ״מֵי דְקָלִים״ — שֶׁיּוֹצְאִין מִן שְׁנֵי דִקְלֵי. מַאי מֵי דְקָלִים? אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בְּרוֹנָא: תַּרְתֵּי תָּלֵאי אִיכָּא בְּמַעְרְבָא, וְנָפְקָא עֵינָא דְמַיָּא מִבֵּינַיְיהוּ. כָּסָא קַמָּא — מְרַפֵּי, אִידַּךְ — מְשַׁלְשֵׁל, וְאִידַּךְ — כִּי הֵיכִי דְּעָיְילִי הָכִי נָפְקִי. אָמַר עוּלָּא: לְדִידִי שְׁתֵי [לִי] שִׁיכְרָא דְּבַבְלָאֵי, וּמְעַלֵּי מִינַּיְיהוּ. וְהוּא דְּלָא רְגִיל בֵּיהּ אַרְבְּעִין יוֹמִין.
We learned in the mishna: One may drink anything on Shabbat except for palm tree water [mei dekalim]. It was taught slightly differently in the Tosefta: Water that stabs [mei dekarim]. The Gemara explains: The one who taught water that stabs means that the waters pierce the gall bladder; and the one who said palm tree water means that they come from two palm trees. In order to explain what palm tree water is, Rabba bar Beruna said: There are two palm trees in Eretz Yisrael, and a spring of water emerges from between them. The first cup one drinks of this water loosens the intestines, another cup causes diarrhea, and another, a third cup, just as it entered as water, so too it emerges. Ulla said: For me, I drink Babylonian beer, and it is more effective than palm tree water in causing diarrhea. The Gemara comments: And this is true. It is effective for the stomach when the person who drinks it has not become accustomed to beer for forty days.
רַב יוֹסֵף אָמַר: זֵיתוֹם הַמִּצְרִי תִּילְתָּא שְׂעָרֵי, וְתִילְתָּא קוּרְטְמֵי, וְתִילְתָּא מִילְחָא. רַב פָּפָּא אָמַר: תִּילְּתָא חִיטֵּי, וְתִילְתָּא קוּרְטְמֵי, וְתִילְתָּא מִילְחָא וְכַמּוֹנָא, וְסִימָנָיךְ — סִיסָאנֵי. וְשָׁתֵי לְהוּ בֵּין דִּבְחָא לַעֲצַרְתָּא, דִּקְמִיט — מְרַפֵּי לֵיהּ, וְדִרְפֵי — קָמֵיט לֵיהּ.
Rav Yosef said: Water that stabs is Egyptian zitom, which is made from one-third barley, and one-third saffron, and one-third salt. Rav Pappa said: It is one-third wheat, and one-third saffron, and one-third salt and cumin. And this is your mnemonic to remember which said zitom is made from barley: A basket which is called sisanei, a word with two samekhs. This word alludes to the fact that Rav Yosef, who has a samekh in his name, is the one who says that Egyptian zitom is made from barley [se’orim], which has the letter sin. Sin is interchangeable with samekh. And one should drink it between Passover and Shavuot. For one whose intestines are blocked, it will loosen his intestines and cure him; and for one whose bowels are loose, it will block him and cure him as well.
וְכוֹס עִקָּרִין. מַאי כּוֹס עִקָּרִין? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לַיְיתֵי מַתְקַל זוּזָא קוּמָא אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרָיָא, וּמַתְקַל זוּזָא גַּבְיָא גִּילָא, וּמַתְקַל זוּזָא כּוּרְכְּמָא רִישְׁקָא, וְלִישְׁחֲקִינְהוּ בַּהֲדֵי הֲדָדֵי. לְזָבָה — תְּלָתָא בְּחַמְרָא, וְלָא מִיעַקְרָא. לְיַרְקוֹנָא — תְּרֵין בְּשִׁיכְרָא, וּמִיעֲקַר. לְזָבָה תְּלָתָא בְּחַמְרָא, וְלָא מִיעַקְרָא. וְאִי לָא — לַיְיתֵי תְּלָתָא
And we also learned about a kos ikarin in the mishna. The Gemara asks: What is a kos ikarin? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Let one bring the weight of a zuz of Alexandrian gum, and a weight of a zuz of alum, and a weight of a zuz of garden saffron, and let one grind them together. The procedure for treating a zava is that she should drink these three ingredients with wine, and she will be cured of her emission and will not become barren. For treating jaundice one should drink two of these ingredients with beer; however, one will become sterile from it. It was said that for treating a zava, she should drink these three ingredients with wine and she will be healed from her emission and will not become barren. And if it is not effective, let one bring three
קְפִיזֵי שַׁמְכֵי פָרְסָאֵי, וְנִישְׁלוֹק בְּחַמְרָא, וְנַשְׁקְיַיהּ, וְנֵימָא לַהּ: קוּם מִזּוֹבִיךְ. וְאִי לָא — לוֹתְבַהּ אַפָּרָשַׁת דְּרָכִים, וְלַנְקְטַהּ כָּסָא דְחַמְרָא בִּידַהּ, וְלַיְתֵי אִינִישׁ מֵאֲחוֹרַהּ וְלִיבַעֲתַהּ, וְלֵימָא לַהּ: קוּם מִזּוֹבִיךְ. וְאִי לָא — לַיְתֵי בּוּנָא דְכַמּוֹנָא וּבוּנָא דְמוֹרִיקָא וּבוּנָא דְשַׁבְּלִילְתָּא, וְנִישְׁלוֹק בְּחַמְרָא, וְנַשְׁקְיַיהּ, וְנֵימָא לַהּ: קוּם מִזּוֹבִיךְ. וְאִי לָא — לַיְתֵי שִׁיתִּין שִׁיעֵי דְּדַנָּא, וְלַשְׁפְּיַהּ, וְלֵימָא לַהּ: קוּם מִזּוֹבִיךְ. וְאִי לָא — לַיְתֵי פְּשִׁיטְנָא, וְלִישְׁלוֹק בְּחַמְרָא, וְלִשְׁפְּיַהּ, וְנֵימָא לַהּ: קוּם מִזּוֹבִיךְ. וְאִי לָא — לַיְתֵי חַרְנוּגָא דְּהִיגְתָּא רוֹמִיתָא, וְלִיקְלֵי, וְלִיסְּבַהּ בְּשַׁחֲקֵי דְכִיתָּנָא בְּקַיְיטָא וּבְשַׁחֲקֵי דַּעֲמַר גּוּפְנָא בְּסִיתְוָא.
vessels full of Persian onions, and boil them in wine, and give it to her to drink. And we say to her: Stop emitting your discharge. And if that is not effective, seat her at a crossroads, and she should take a cup of wine in her hand, and let a person come from behind her and frighten her and say to her: Stop emitting your discharge. And if this is also not effective, bring her a fistful [buna] of cumin, and a fistful of saffron, and a fistful of fenugreek, and cook them in wine, and give it to her to drink, and say to her: Stop emitting your discharge. And if this is not effective, let one bring sixty barrel seals, soak them, and then spread it on her and say to her: Stop emitting your discharge. And if this is also does not effective, let one bring pashtina, a type of grass, boil it in wine, and then spread it on her and say to her: Stop emitting your discharge. And if this is not effective, let one bring a thistle that grows on Roman thorns and burn it, and place its ashes in rags from linen clothing in the summer and in rags from cotton clothing in the winter.
וְאִי לָא — לִיכְרֵי שְׁבַע בֵּירֵי, וְלִיקְלֵי בְּהוּ שְׁבִישָׁתָא (יַלְדָּה) דְעׇרְלָה, וְלַינְקְטַהּ כָּסָא דְחַמְרָא בִּידַהּ, וְלוֹקְמַהּ מֵהָא וְלוֹתְבַהּ אַהָא, וְלוֹקְמַהּ מֵהָא וְלוֹתְבַהּ אַהָא, וְאַכֹּל חֲדָא וַחֲדָא לֵימָא לַהּ: קוּם מִזּוֹבִיךְ. וְאִי לָא — לַיְיתֵי סְמִידָא, וְלֵיסְכַהּ מִפַּלְגָא לְתַתַּאי, וְלֵימָא לַהּ: קוּם מִזּוֹבִיךְ. וְאִי לָא — לַיְתֵי בֵּיעֲתָא דְנַעָמִיתָא, וְלִיקְלֵי, וְלִיסְּבַהּ בְּשַׁחֲקֵי דְכִיתָּנָא בְּקַיְיטָא וּבְשַׁחֲקֵי דַעֲמַר גּוּפְנָא בְּסִיתְוָא. וְאִי לָא — לִיפְתַּח לַהּ חָבִיתָא דְחַמְרָא לִשְׁמַהּ. וְאִי לָא — לִנְקִיט שְׂעָרְתָּא דְּמִשְׁתַּכְחָא בִּכְפוּתָא דְּכוּדַנְיָא חִיוָּרְתָּא, אִי נָקְטָה חַד יוֹמָא — פָּסְקָה תְּרֵי יוֹמֵי, וְאִי נָקְטָה תְּרֵי יוֹמֵי — פָּסְקָה תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי, וְאִי נָקְטָה תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי — פָּסְקָה לְעוֹלָם.
And if this is not effective, let one dig seven pits and burn young grape shoots in them from vines that are orla, and place a cup of wine in her hand and raise her up from that pit and sit her in another pit, and raise her from that pit and sit her in this pit, and raise her from that pit and sit her in this other pit. And each and every time say to her: Stop emitting your discharge. And if this is not effective, let one bring fine flour and place it on the bottom half of her body and say to her: Stop emitting your discharge. And if this is not effective, let one bring an ostrich egg and burn it, and place its ashes in linen rags during the summer, and in cotton rags during the winter. And if this is also not effective, let one open a barrel of wine for her, and let her drink it. And if this is not effective, let one hold a barley grain that is found in the dung of a white donkey. If she holds it for one day her discharge will cease for two days; and if she holds it for two days it will cease for three days, and if she holds it for three days it will cease forever.
לְיַרְקוֹנָא תְּרֵין בְּשִׁיכְרָא, וּמִיעֲקַר. וְאִי לָא — לַיְיתֵי רֵישָׁא דְשִׁיבּוּטָא דְּמִילְחָא וְלִישְׁלוֹק בְּשִׁיכְרָא, וְלִישְׁתֵּי. וְאִי לָא — לַיְיתֵי מוֹנִינֵי דְקַמְצֵי. וְאִי לֵיכָּא מוֹנִינֵי דְקַמְצֵי — לַיְיתֵי מוֹנִינֵי דִּנְקִירֵי, וְלִיעַיְילֵיהּ לְבֵי בָנֵי וְלִישְׁפְּיֵיהּ. וְאִי לֵיכָּא בֵּי בָנֵי — לוֹקְמֵיהּ בֵּין תַּנּוּרָא לְגוּדָּא. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הָרוֹצֶה שֶׁיְּחַמְּמֶנּוּ — יְקַנְּחֶנּוּ בִּסְדִינוֹ. רַב אַחָא בַּר יוֹסֵף חַשׁ בֵּיהּ, עֲבַד לֵיהּ רַב כָּהֲנָא, וְאִיתַּסִּי.
The Gemara states: For jaundice, one should drink two of the three ingredients mentioned together with beer, and one becomes sterile from it. The Gemara continues to discuss this remedy: And if one does not have these ingredients, i.e., Alexandrian gum, saffron, and alum, or if the remedy did not work, let one bring the head of a salted shibuta fish and boil it in beer and drink it. And if this is not effective, let one bring grasshopper brine and drink it. And if one does not have grasshopper brine, let one bring brine of small birds, and enter the bathhouse, and smear himself with it. And if there is no bathhouse, have him stand between the oven and the wall and sweat out his disease. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: One who seeks to warm this patient up should wrap him tightly in his sheet. Rav Aḥa bar Yosef was sick with this disease, and Rav Kahana performed this remedy for him and he was healed.
וְאִי לָא — לַיְתֵי תְּלָתָא קְפִיזִי תַּמְרֵי פָּרְסְיָיתָא, וּתְלָתָא קְפִיזֵי דְקִירָא דְּנִישְׁתְּרוּפֵי, וּתְלָתָא קְפִיזֵי אַהֲלָא תּוֹלְעָנָא, וְלִישְׁלוֹקִינְהוּ בְּשִׁיכְרָא, וְלִישְׁתֵּי. וְאִי לָא — לַיְתֵי עִילָא בַּר חֲמָרָא, וְלִיגַלַּח מְצִיעֲתָא דְרֵישָׁא, וְלִישְׁבּוֹק לֵיהּ דְּמָא מֵאַפּוּתֵיהּ, וְלוֹתְבֵיהּ אַרֵישֵׁיהּ, וְלִיזְדְּהַר מֵעֵינֵיהּ דְּלָא לִיסַּמֵּי לְהוּ. וְאִי לָא — לַיְתֵי רֵישָׁא דְּבַרְחָא דְּמַנַּח בְּכִיבְשָׁא, וְלִישְׁלוֹק בְּשִׁיכְרָא, וְלִישְׁתֵּי. וְאִי לָא — לַיְתֵי דָּבָר אַחֵר חוּטְרָנָא, וְלִיקְרְעֵיהּ, וְלוֹתְבֵיהּ אַלִּיבֵּיהּ. וְאִי לָא — לַיְתֵי כַּרָּתֵי מִכַּבְתְּוָתָא דְּמֵישָׁרֵי.
The Gemara continues: And if this remedy is not effective, let one bring three vessels of Persian dates, and three vessels of dripping wax [kira], and three vessels of red aloe, and boil them in beer and drink it. And if this remedy is not effective, let one bring a donkey foal, and shave the middle of its head, and let blood from the donkey’s forehead, and place it on his own head. And he should take care not to let the blood enter his eyes lest it blind him. And if this is not effective, let one bring a pickled ram’s head and boil it in beer and drink it. And if this is not effective, let him bring a striped something else, i.e., a pig, and tear it open and place it on his heart. And if this is not effective, let him bring leeks from the middle of the row, which are very sharp.
הָהוּא טַיָּיעָא דְּחַשׁ בֵּיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לְגִינַּאי: שְׁקוֹל גְּלִימַאי וְהַב לִי מֵישָׁרָא דְכַרָּתֵי. יְהַב לֵיהּ וְאַכְלַהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אוֹשְׁלַן גְּלִימָיךְ וְאֶיגְנֵי בֵּיהּ קַלִּי. אִיכְּרַךְ גְּנָא בֵּיהּ. כַּד אִיחַמַּם וְקָם, נְפַל פּוּרְתָּא פּוּרְתָּא מִינֵּיהּ.
It is reported that a certain Arab was sick with jaundice. He said to the gardener: Take my cloak and give me a row of leeks in exchange. The gardener gave him the row and he ate it. The Arab said to the gardener: Lend me your cloak and I will sleep in it for a short while. The gardener gave it to him and he wrapped himself in it and slept. When he got hot and stood up pieces fell from the cloak bit by bit because the cloak had become very hot from the Arab’s sweat. The Arab tricked the gardener, who ultimately received nothing.
לְיַרְקוֹנָא תְּרֵין בְּשִׁיכְרָא, וּמִיעֲקַר. וּמִי שְׁרֵי? וְהָתַנְיָא, מִנַּיִין לַסֵּירוּס בָּאָדָם שֶׁהוּא אָסוּר — תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וּבְאַרְצְכֶם לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ״ — בָּכֶם לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי חֲנִינָא. הָנֵי מִילֵּי — הֵיכָא דְּקָא מִיכַּוֵּין, הָכָא — מֵעַצְמוֹ הוּא. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הָרוֹצֶה שֶׁיְּסָרֵס תַּרְנְגוֹל — יִטּוֹל כַּרְבׇּלְתּוֹ, וּמִסְתָּרֵס מֵאֵלָיו. וְהָאָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: רָמוּת רוּחָא הוּא דִּנְקִיטָא לֵיהּ. אֶלָּא בְּסָרִיס.
The Gemara discussed the remedy for jaundice, saying that one should drink two of the ingredients mentioned together with beer, and one becomes sterile from it. The Gemara asks: And is it permitted to cause sterility? Wasn’t it taught in a baraita: From where is it derived that castration of a man is prohibited? The verse states: “Those whose testicles are bruised, or crushed, or torn, or cut, shall not be offered to the Lord, and you shall not do this in your land” (Leviticus 22:24), meaning that you shall not do it to yourselves; this is the statement of Rabbi Ḥanina. Apparently, it is prohibited to castrate a man. The Gemara answers: This prohibition applies only in a case where one intends to castrate. Here, in the cure for jaundice, the sterility happens on its own, incidental to the treatment. Proof is cited from that which Rabbi Yoḥanan said: One who seeks to castrate a rooster should remove its comb and it will become castrated on its own. Incidental castration is permitted. The Gemara rejects the proof. Didn’t Rav Ashi say: It is arrogance that it assumes when it has its comb, and when the comb is removed it becomes depressed and no longer procreates. However, it is not actually castrated. Rather, apparently this remedy for jaundice is permitted only for one who is castrated and for whom causing sterility is not a concern.
וְהָאָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן:
The Gemara asks: Didn’t Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba say that Rabbi Yoḥanan said:
