The Gemorrah's final answer on daf 91b (begore the two dots) is explained by you:-
"b) We finally establish the Tana of our Mishnah (who quotes Rebbi Akiva as saying that one is forbidden to wound oneself) as Rebbi Elazar ha'Kapar. He explains the Pasuk (in connection with a Nazir who became Tamei Meis) "ve'Chiper Alav me'Asher Chata al ha'Nefesh" to mean - that the Nazir requires an atonement for having abstained from wine ...
(c) ... how much more so does someone who wounds oneself or even fasts require an atonement."
I don't understand this - the Gemorrah seemed to have said above that the the Machlokes Tana'im on whether "Odom Rashai Lechavel Be'atsmo" or not is talking about actual physical damage, and NOT just fasting - so how can we bring in R'Elazar B Kapar's idea about fasting to help us find the Tana who holds "Ein Odom Rashai.." ?
Thank you in advance !
Shlomo Steinhart, Ramat Bet Shemesh, Israel
It is a Kal va'Chomer. If Rebbi Elazar holds that one is not allowed to fast and thereby cause to oneself indirect damage, surely he holds that one cannot cause himself direct physical damage.
D. Zupnik