Bava Batra

Or if you like I can say that its mouth is turned outwards, and here we are speaking of a jar of metal.  A [further] objection was raised [against the rule from the following]: Grass which has been plucked up and placed in the window or which has grown there of itself, rags less than three-by-three handbreadths,  a limb or flesh hanging from an animal, a bird nesting in the window, a non-Jew sitting in the window or a child born at the eighth month which has been placed there, salt, an earthenware vessel, or a scroll of the Law-all these narrow the window space.  On the other hand, snow, hail, ice, hoar frost and water do not narrow the window space.  Now 'grass' is food for cattle?  — We speak here of poisonous grass.  'Or which has grown there' of itself — will it not be removed as injurious to the wall?  — Rabbah said: We speak here of the wall of a ruin. R. papa said: The rule applies even to the wall of an inhabited place. where the grass springs up from more than three handbreadths distance from the window.  'Rags' are useful for mending clothes? — We speak of thick rags. These are useful for a blood-letter?  — We speak of sacking. If the Baraitha speaks of sacking, it should say 'less than four by four,'  not 'three by three'? — It means, rough like sacking. 'A limb or flesh hanging from an animal.' Will not the animal go away? — We suppose it to be tied. But it can be killed [for food]? — We suppose it to be an unclean animal. In that case it can be sold to a non-Jew? — We suppose it to be too scraggy. In that case he can cut off the limb and throw it to the dogs? — As this would cause pain to a living creature, he would not do so. 'A bird-nesting in the window' — will it not fly away? — We suppose it to be tied. Then he will kill it [for food]? — We suppose it to be unclean. Then he will sell it to a non — Jew? — We suppose it to be a kallanitha.  Then he will give it to a child? — It will scratch. A kallanitha does not scratch? — We mean, as scraggy as a kallanitha. 'A non-Jew  sitting in the window' — will he not get up and go? — We suppose him to be tied there. Then some one will come and untie him? — We suppose him to be leprous. Another leper will come and loosen him? — We suppose he is a prisoner of the Government. Or 'a child born in the eighth month  placed in the window.' Will not its mother come and lift it up? — We assume it is on the Sabbath, [when she may not lift him], as it was taught: A child born at eight months is on a par with a stone and may not be carried on Sabbath, but his mother may bend over him and give him suck for the sake of her health.  'Salt' is useful? — We speak of bitter salt. This is useful for preparing skins [for tanning]? — We suppose there are thorns in it. But since it is injurious to the wall it will be taken away? — We suppose it to be resting on a piece of earthenware. But this itself will form a partition? —