Shabbat

officer of Pumbeditha was bitten by a snake. Now there were thirteen white asses in Pumbeditha; they were all torn open and found to be terefah. There was another on the other side of Pumbeditha, [but] before they could go and bring it a lion devoured it. [Thereupon] Abaye observed to them. 'Perhaps he was bitten by a snake of the Rabbis,  for which there is no cure, as it is written, and whoso breaketh through a fence,  a serpent shall bite him?'  'Indeed so, Rabbi,' answered they. For when Rab died, R. Isaac b. Bisna decreed that none should bring myrtles and palm-branches to a wedding feast to the' sound of a tabla,  yet he went and brought myrtle and palm-branches at a wedding to the sound of the tabla; [so] a snake bit him and he died. If a snake winds itself around a person, let him go down into water, put a basket over its head and force it [the snake] away from himself, and when it goes on to it [the basket], he should throw it into the water, ascend and make off. If a man is scented by a snake,  if his companion is with him, he should make him ride four cubits.  If not, let him jump a ditch.  If not, let him cross a river; and at night place his bed on four barrels and sleep under the stars,  and bring four cats and tie them to the four legs of the bed. Then he should fetch rubbish  and throw it there, so that when they hear a sound they [the cats] will devour it. If a man is chased by one [a snake], he should flee into sandy places. If a woman sees a snake and does not know whether it has turned its attention to her or not, let her remove her garments and throw them in front of it; if it winds itself around them, its mind is upon her; if not, its mind is not upon her. What can she do? She should cohabit [with her husband] in front of it. Others say, That will even strengthen its instincts. Rather she should take some of her hair and nails and throw them at it and say, 'I am menstruous'. If a snake enters a woman, let her spread her legs and place them on two barrels; fat meat must be brought and cast on the burning coals; a basket of cress must be brought together with fragrant wine and placed there, and be well beaten together.  They should take a pair of tongs in their hand, for when it smells the fragrance it will come out, so that it can be seized and burnt in the fire, as otherwise it will re-enter. EXCEPT WATER OF PALM TREES. It was taught: Except water that pierces. He who teaches, water that pierces, [calls it thus] because it pierces the gall.  And he who says WATER OF PALM TREES, that is because it comes forth from [between] two palm trees. What is water of palm trees?  — Rabbah b. Beruna said: There are two tali  in the west [Palestine] and a spring of water issues from between them. The first cup [thereof] loosens, the second causes motion, and the third passes out just as it enters. 'Ulla said: I myself drank Babylonian beer and it is more efficacious than these [waters];  provided, however, that one had discontinued [drinking] it for forty days. R. Joseph said: Egyptian beer consists of one part barley, one part safflower, and one part salt. R. Papa said: One part wheat, one part safflower, and one part salt. And the token is sisane.  And it is drunk between Passover  and Pentecost; upon him who is constipated it acts as a laxative, while him who suffers with diarrhoea it binds. AND A POTION OF ROOTS. What is a POTION OF ROOTS? Said R. Johanan: The weight of a zuz  of Alexandrian gum is brought, a zuz weight of liquid alum and a zuz weight of garden crocus, and they are powdered together. For a zabah, a third thereof [mixed] with wine [is efficacious] that she shall not become barren. For jaundice two thirds thereof [mixed] with beer [is drunk], and he [the sufferer] then becomes impotent.  'For a zabah, a third thereof [mixed] with win [is efficacious] that she shall not become barren': but if not,  let them procure three