Barry Epstein asked:
The Mishnah speaks on animal eye ailments. It states that the difference between whether it is permanent or temporary is based on what it eats and the order in which it is eaten. This is difficult for me to understand today. How is this applied today? Is a blemish today ruled permanent because the animal ate moist fodder first and dry fodder afterwards?
Barry Epstein, Dallas, TX
The Kollel replies:
All the Gemara is saying is that it is considered a blemish if the known, prescribed cure for this ailment does not help. If today there would be a different way of curing this blemish, it is very possible this would not be ruled a permanent Mum as long as that treatment works.
All the best,
Yaakov Montrose