Illness
Aramaic
R. Yoḥanan suffered from [the illness] tsafdina’ [or, tsifduna’; perhaps inflammation of the mouth or gums]. He went to a certain matronita [a non-Jewish woman]. She prepared [a remedy for him] on the fourth [day] and on the eve of Shabbat.1 [ . . . ]
R. Naḥman bar Isaac said: Tsafdina’ is different because though starting in the mouth it ends in the intestines. What are its symptoms? If one places anything between the molars, blood comes forth from the gums.
What does [the disease come] from? The chill of cold wheat [dishes] and the heat of hot barley [dishes]; also from the remains of harsana’ [fish hash].
What did she [i.e., the matronita] apply to it? Said R. Aḥa b. Rava: Yeast-water, olive oil, and salt. Mar bar R. Ashi said: Goose fat with a goose quill. Abaye said: I applied all of these and did not recover until a Tayaya [an Arab] instructed me: Bring olive pits, which have not grown to one third [of their size], and roast them on a new ladle, and spread them onto the gums. I did accordingly and recovered.
Notes
[A passage, omitted here, explains that R. Yoḥanan revealed the details of the recipe, although he had promised not to.—Trans.]
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
