Shabbat 134: Cures for Newborns Problems, Treatment of Circumcision Wound, Androgynos Circumcision?

Going back to our last Mishna, we learn more about what can be done to sooth a baby following circumcision when it falls on a Shabbat or a Festival.  Chewing cumin and placing it on the place of circumcision is permitted as it is used to spice a pot in cooking.  The rabbis consider other preparation of food that might be permitted on Shabbat.

The rabbis mention Abaye's mother, was was said to describe a pouch used as a bandage over the the site of circumcision.  It was critical to keep threads away so that they did not stick and sever the urethra.  If there was no pouch, Abaye said that worn-out garments with a hem should be used by wrapping the hem under and folding the garment over.  In this was the would would not be affected by threads.

Abaye shares further advice given by his nurse and mother:

• baby without anus: oil the area, hold to sunlight, use barley seed to cut length and widthwise
• baby not nursing: place cup of coals near its cold mouth
• baby not urinating: place in a sieve and shake it
• baby not breathing: place placenta on baby
• baby too small: rub the placental on the baby from the narrow end to the wide end
• baby is strong (too large), rub the placenta from the narrow end to the wide end
• baby is red: wait for blood to be absorbed before circumcision
• baby is pale: wait until blood enters the system before circumcision

Rabbi Natan spoke of a woman whose first two sons were circumcised and both died.  The third child was red.  He told her to wait until his blood was fully absorbed and then circumcised him and he lived. Another time, he went to Cappadocia where the same thing had happened but the third chid was  pale.  He said to wait until the blood entered him, and he lived.

Amud (b) begins with a new Mishna.  It teaches that we may wash the baby on shabbat before and after circumcision.  We may sprinkle hot water on him by hand but not with a vessel - an atypical manner of using water.  Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya said we may wash the baby on the third day after Shabbat even if that day is Shabbat.  We know that would be a painful day based on Genesis (34:25) where the men of Shchem were circumcised and immobilized with pain on the third day.

If the baby is androgynos, with both male and female genitals, we do not break Shabbat to circumcise because circumcision might not be required at all.  Rabbi permits circumcision of an androgynos baby.  

First the Gemara considers whether babies might heal more quickly than adults who are circumcised.  Rav Dimi came to Babylonia from Yerushalayim and discussed whether it is just the site of circumcision or the whole baby that can be washed.  Because being stringent and avoiding washing a baby could pose a danger to the infant, the halacha permits leniency including washing and placing hot water and oil on a wound on Shabbat.  The rabbis are concerned that one might squeeze the soft garment used to heal the circumcision wound.  They consider which cloths might be used.  

Finally, the rabbis turn to our Mishna's words regarding whether or not we should circumcise an androgynos on Shabbat, as it is uncertain whether or not circumcision is necessary.  Though Leviticus (12:3) says that "And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised", the rabbis suggest that only halachically certain foreskin should override Shabbat.