[Avodah] diff between small nick in koneh vs veshet

[Alan Rubin]

On Tue, Aug 2, 2011 at 4:29 PM, Hankman <salman at videotron.ca> wrote:
> RAR wrote:
> I presume from your response that you are a doctor so I will defer to your
> knowledge in this area. However I would ask: are you comparing apples to
> oranges?

I do think that a similar size tear would be much more dangerous in
the oesophagus. Infection would be much less of an issue with a nick
in the trachea which is much 'cleaner' than the oesophagus.  In the
oesophagus food which isn't sterile is being pushed downwards so if
there is a nick in the oesophagus something will leak out. Of course
no one as far as I know has done the experiment so it is all
speculation.

Another thing to consider is that with the oesophagus being placed
behind the trachea any injury to the oesophagus is likely to be
accompanied by injury to other structures, in particular blood
vessels. The trachea is much more superficial and it is easier to
imagine an injury to the trachea which does little damage to other
structures.

Alan Rubin