Commentary for Shabbat 245:18

אסובי ינוקא רב נחמן אסיר ורב ששת שרי אמר רב נחמן מנא אמינא לה דתנן אין עושין

— R. Nahman retracted from that [ruling]. A SMALL NEEDLE TO REMOVE A THORN, etc. Raba son of Rabbah sent to R. Joseph: Let our Master teach us, What of a needle from which the eye or the point has been removed?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Does it still rank as a utensil and permitted to be handled on the Sabbath? ');">¹⁷</span> We have learnt it, he replied: A SMALL NEEDLE TO REMOVE A THORN: now, what does it matter to the thorn whether it has an eye or not? He [thereupon] put an objection to him: If the eye or the point of a needle is removed, it is clean?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which shows that it is not a utensil. ');">¹⁸</span> — Said Abaye: You oppose defilement to the Sabbath! [For] defilement we require a working utensil,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But if the eye or point is removed the needle is no longer a utensil. ');">¹⁹</span> [whereas] in respect to the Sabbath we require anything that is fit, and this too is fit for removing a splinter. Raba observed, He who raises the objection does so rightly: since it is not a utensil in respect to defilement, it is not a utensil in respect to the Sabbath. An objection is raised: A needle, whether with or without an eye, may be handled on the Sabbath, while one with an eye was specified only in respect to defilement?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra 52b. This refutes Raba. ');">²⁰</span> — Abaye interpreted it on the view of Raba as referring to unfinished utensils, for sometimes he may decide to use it thus and make it rank as a utensil; but if the eye or point is removed one throws it away among the rubbish.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Not regarding it as a utensil at all. ');">²¹</span> Causing a new-born babe to vomit,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By inserting the finger in its mouth in order to relieve it of its phlegm (Jast.). Rashi: To manipulate and ease a child's limbs. ');">²²</span> R. Nahman forbids, while R. Shesheth permits. R. Nahman said: Whence do I rule thus? Because we learnt: One must not use an emetic<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In order to leave room for mere food. ');">²³</span>

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