[Avodah] diff between small nick in koneh vs veshet

[Alan Rubin]

RCM wrote>
> I hear what you are saying. the risk of infection is higher in the
> oesophagus and the risk of enlarging the tear is also greater in the
> oesophagus due to the peristalsis of the oesophagus. But you avoided
> responding to how serious you think a "fine needle" hole (from an injection)
> in the oesophagus would be (I suspect medically not too serious) - yet
> halacha would call that a treifa.

I do not think that the hole created by passing a needle into the
oesophagus would create a serious risk. Indeed our Rabbi has told us
that in some herds of cattle many of the animals have been treated for
colic by passing needles into their stomachs and this creates a
potential kashrus issue. I have not learned this gemara but I suspect
that when you study the various pleural lesions which are regarded as
halachically problematic you will encounter the similar difficulties.

Alan Rubin