Commentary for Avodah Zarah 56:8
אמר רבה בר זוטרא אמר רבי חנינא מעלין אזנים בשבת תני רב שמואל בר יהודה ביד אבל לא בסם איכא דאמרי בסם אבל לא ביד מ"ט מזריף זריף
Rava b. Zutra in the name of R. Hanina: It is permissible to restore the ear into its proper position on Shabbat. R. Shmuel b. Judah taught: With the hand, but not by applying medicines. There are those who say: By applying medicine, but not with the hand. Why not? He might come to injure him.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
All agree that it is permitted to “restore the ear into its proper position” which means to fix a dislocated jaw. However, they disagree with regard to whether it is better to do so with medicine or with the hand. Those who prefer the hand would say that taking medicine is a rabbinic prohibition and therefore should be avoided. Those who prefer the medicine would say that resetting the jaw by hand might cause injury, and it is prohibited by the Torah to cause injury.
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