Commentary for Kiddushin 142:12
א"ר פפא סבא משמיה דרב בבל בריאה מישון מיתה מדי חולה עילם גוססת ומה בין חולין לגוססין רוב חולין לחיים רוב גוססים למיתה
R'Papa the elder said on Rab's authority: Babylon is healthy; Mesene<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The island formed by the Euphrates, the Tigris and the Royal Canal.');"><sup>20</sup></span> is dead; Media is sick, and Elam is dying.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Jews of Babylon are of pure descent; in Mesene they are all unfit (mamzerim) ; in the other two they are mixed.');"><sup>21</sup></span> And what is the difference between sick and dying? - Most sick are [destined] for life; most dying are for death.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The majority of Media are pure; the majority of Elam are mamzerim.');"><sup>22</sup></span>