שולחן ערוך יורה דעה · סימן ל״ב

English

If most of the skin that surrounds the marrow of the spinal cord was severed, the animal is invalid, even though all of the marrow is intact. And if most of the skin was not severed, even if all of the marrow inside was severed, it is valid.

English

If the skin split lengthwise, it is valid. And so too, if the spine broke but the [spinal] cord was not severed, or if the marrow that is inside the [spinal] cord was crushed and it wobbles, since the skin is still intact it is permitted.

English

If the marrow decomposed and it can be poured like water or melted wax to the extent that the [spinal] cord, when one holds it in his hand, the part that extends out from his hand bends over and is not able to stand by itself, the animal is invalid. And so too, even though the inside didn't soften, but rather it became thick and heavy, if when one stands it up it is not able to stand because of its heaviness, it is an invalid animal.

English

If part of the marrow was missing, and a cavity formed, it is valid.

English

This invalidation of the spinal cord is [from anywhere] until the opening of the third branch [nerve], including it. And if one of the two cords of the first or second branch were severed, it is an invalid animal. But, if the cord of the third branch was severed, it is valid. And in a bird, the invalidation of the spinal cord is until [the location] opposite the wings, the beginning of the place where they are attached to the body. Rema: And there are those that invalidate in a bird until the place at the end of where the bone, which is attached to the body, rests. And this is the custom if it's not a [case of] great loss.

English

An animal that one hits on the spine with a stick, and the stick went across the entire length of the spine, the animal is valid, and we are not worried that maybe the spine was severed. And if the stick has knots, we are worried [that the spine was severed] in the place of the knots. And so too, if the stick did not reach across the entire spine, we are worried that the head of the stick, at the place where [the stick] ends, hit with force, and so too, if one hit [across] the width of the spine, we are worried that maybe the spine was severed.

English

An animal that drags its legs, we are not worried that maybe it severed its spine. Rema: Rather, we say that shigrona, which is a disease of the legs, took ahold of it. And so too is the law by a bird that we also rule like this.

English

When do we say this reasoning? When one did not know if [the animal] had fallen, but if one knew that it fell, we are worried.