Commentary for Avodah Zarah 60:5
אמר רב ספרא משום ר' יהושע דרומא שלשה מיני ארס הן של בחור שוקע של בינוני מפעפע ושל זקן צף למימרא דכמה דקשיש כחוש חיליה והתניא שלשה כל זמן שמזקינין גבורה מתוספת בהן אלו הן דג נחש וחזיר כח אוסופי הוא דקא מוסיף זיהריה קליש
R. Safra said in the name of R. Joshua of the south: There are three kinds of venoms [of snakes]: that of a young one sinks to the bottom; that of a middle aged one bubbles in the middle; while that of an old one floats on top. That is to say that the older a snake gets the more his strength diminishes. But has it not been taught: There are three whose strength increases as their age advances: a fish, a snake and a swine! Its strength indeed increases, but its venom becomes weaker.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
R. Safra classifies the types of snake poison based on the age of the snake.
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Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
R. Safra’s classification of snake venom seems to contradict a baraita that teaches that snakes grow stronger as they age. The Talmud resolves this by saying that while they go stronger, their venom grows weaker. That is why it floats to the top.
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