1

The lung has two membranes. If one is punctured but not the other, or one not in the place of the other, it's kosher. Only if they're both punctured adjacently [it's treif]. (Tur citing Rashba)

Rema: And there are those that say it's treif if they are both punctured but not adjacently, and that's our practice. (Hagahot Ashiri PA"T, Rabbeinu Yerucham, A"W long version, and A"P)

2

Even if the outer membrane was entirely peeled off, it's kosher, but still needs checking.

Rema: However if there's a Bo'ah (cyst, Chullin 46b) at the spot where the outer skin was peeled, there's reason to say it's treif, for it's like a membrane arising from a wound. (BD"Y)

Some say if they inflated the lung and the membrane tore from the blowing, it's treif (b'bedikot).

3

If it was punctured and a membrane grew and closed it, it's treif.

4

A lung from which a sound emanates when it's inflated,

• if it's recognizable the place from which the sound emanates, a feather or straw etc. is placed on it, and if it moves, it's known it's punctured and treif.
• if it's not recognizable the place, we place it in tepid water and inflate it. If the water bubbles, it's treif. If not, it's known only the inner membrane is punctured and the air is moving between the two membranes, and this causes the sound that's heard when inflating it, and it's kosher.

Rema: If they put it once in water that's hot (according to everyone) or cold - it can no longer be checked even in water that's neither hot or cold. (B"Y b'shem HR"N)

5

If it's found to be punctured then in a case when there's a reason to attribute it to having happened after shechita for example the butcher moved his hand forcefully or ripped it off forcefully, or a wolf took it and brought it back punctured - we make that attribution being lenient and it's kosher. Even if there are many punctures not at the place of its teeth [marks] we attribute all of it to the wolf.

Rema: But we do not attribute it to the butcher unless the hole is long, which is usually due to the butcher's force. But if it's round we do not attribute it to the butcher, for that's not usually round (BD"Y b'shem Maharil and Mahari Molin)

And any hole that's open (Hagahot Mordekhai Chulin Ch. 1) or darkened or red around the hole (B"Y b'shem M"K) - and even if it's only red around the ribs against the hole - is treif and we do not ascribe it to anything else, for it's certain it happened while alive.

If we find in it worms that made holes and it's unknown whether they perforated it before slaughter or after - it's kosher. And if there's no room to ascribe it and the matter is doubtful whether it was perforated while alive, we make a another hole and put it close to it, and if they're similar - it's kosher. For just as this one was made after shechita so too was the first one. But if they're not similar - it's treif. And we don't make visual comparison from small cattle to the the appearance of large cattle; only small to small and large to large. (Rif, Rambam, Rashba and Tosefot and Hagaham b'shem R"Ch)

Rema: And there are those that say we don't compare one animal with another (Rashi, Bahag, Rosh, Tur/Aguda, and Samag, Ran, R' Yerucham brought Rashi's opinion at the end)

And even with one animal we only compare "large to large" [Chullin 50a] meaning primary bronchus to primary, or "small to small" meaning secondary bronchus to secondary. But presently we are not adept so we don't rely on comparison at all for approving. (Kol Bo b'shem haGeonim) (and MHRYL and other achronim)

6

If there's perforated one of the bronchioles (hollow tubes inside the lung) that's facing another, for instance where they branch and there's no flesh between them - it's treif. Because the other one is firm and does not shield it. But if it's perforated facing the lung flesh, the flesh shields it and it's kosher.

7

A lung whose contents can be poured like a pitcher [i.e., whose tissue dissolved to the point of liquefaction, Sukkah 36a] but its outer membrane is intact with no holes - if the bronchia stay in place and are not dissolved, it's kosher. But if even one bronchus is rotted it's treif. How do we determine? We pierce [the lung] and pour it into a container that's lead glazed [Taz: the Tur explains that it's white]. If white strands appear, it's certain the bronchia are rotted and it's treif. And if not, it's only the lung flesh that's rotten and it's kosher. On the condition the liquid is clear; but if it's clouded or putrid it's treif.

Rema: And some say it's kosher even if clouded or putrid. (Rosh, Rashba, Harzah, Haran, Tur, Sahat, Samag, Hagaham, and Kol Bo #101, and see below, #37 at the top) And whoever is expert to check whether the bronchia are dissolved, one can rely on them if there's a need due to large loss.

8

If the body of the lung is lacking a part but it's not punctured it's kosher, but some prohibit it.

Rema: And the custom is to say it's kosher if the missing part is the dimension of an open hand, but if it's the dimension of a folded hand [i age missing] - if he can insert his thumb in that hole it's called a chisaron and it's treif, and if not it's kosher. And all this is when the chisaron is visible from outside after inflating, but if it's like the rest of the lung after inflating except it just lacks flesh inside even if the chisaron holds up to a reviit it's kosher; more that that it's treif. (MHRY"V and Bedikot old version and see Maaseh, Shas, Tur, poskim, and B"Y in the name of Ohel Moed)

9

A lung that has a stopped place (atum, Rambam's term in 7:6) where the air doesn't enter and doesn't rise when inflated, we bring a knife and tear (just the membrane) (MHRY"V and B"Y b'shem M"K and Rashba in T"H) very close to the blocked part, in case there's extra fluid there that causes the air to not enter that part - and if there's no moisture we put a little spit, grass or feather and if it moves it's kosher, for behold the air enters there - otherwise it's treif.

Rema: And it's only called atum if its appearance is alike with the rest of the lung except it doesn't rise when inflated. But if its appearance is like pus (mugla) it's just a large, hard tubercle (tinri) and it's kosher without checking. (Hagahot Maimoni, Semag, and BY b'shem Rashi). And even with an atum he should see to first putting the lung in tepid water, or put tepid water into the windpipe and shake it (Hagahot Ashiri), or feel around a great deal at the atum (Rokeach) and afterwards spill out what was inside the windpipe. Afterwards if it rises when inflated it's kosher. And even if it the lung was cut, if he can check using an eggshell that the place of the atum rises when inflated, there's reason to say it's kosher. (MHRYW, Arukh ...)

10

A lung that's hard as wood to the touch is treif. (This is also the rule if it's light as wood.) (MHRY"V).

11

A lung that is disintegrated, meaning it appears whole but when it's hung then pieces fall off of it, is treif.

12

A lung that's swollen like the the stem of a palm branch, we forbid it due to doubt.

13

A lung that's dry, even just a part of it, is treif. That is, when it breaks up with a finger nail.

Rema: And if one scrapes with a fingernal on the lung flesh and the rut is seen inside it's called dry and it's treif. (found it written and thus in Bedikat ha'achroni')

14

[A lung] that's all shriveled, if it's due to people terrifying it for instance slaughtering another one in front of it and so forth, it's treif. But if it's due to Heaven for instance it got frightened from hearing thunder of seeing lightning bolts and so forth, or from fear of other creatures for instance the lion's roar and so forth, it's kosher.

15

How do we check it? (if there's a doubt due to some occurrence to it) (Ran's opinion). Soak the lung in water a 24 hours period. In cold weather soak it in temperate water and in a vessel the water does not ooze out of and leak so it doesn't get cold quickly. And in hot weather soak it in cool water in a vessel the water doesn't ooze out of so it can stay cool. If it returns to a healthy state behold it's due to an act of Heaven or other creatures and it's permitted. If it does not return to a healthy state it's due to man and it's treif. (Entire Seif is verbatim Rambam Ibid. 10).

Rema: But it appears we don't rely on this check because we are not versed in all the things that need checking. But if it seems it was caused by Heaven it should not be judged kosher without this test, and in this case our test can be relied on. (So explains RSh"L).

16

A lung that is felt by hand that there's a needle in it, if it's intact we inflate it. If it rises on blowing it's kosher, regardless if it's thin or thick, regardless if it entered by the sharp end or its Qof (its blunt end) - and if it's pierced it's treif. If it has a Kort [(coagulated) drop] of blood against the needle on the outside it's treif even if it's whole (not pierced).

Rema: Nowadays any lung having a needle should be judged treif and cannot be given a complete ruling (B"Y in the name of SM"K, Hagahot Maimoni 7:5, Arokh, and MHRA"Y 30) if it's not a large loss in which case it should be checked by inflating (Sh"D 92, Hagahot, Beit Yosef, MHRY"L, and thus imply all the poskim).

17

If a needle is found in a primary bronchus of a lung, it's kosher.

Rema: Even if (the lung) is cut and hence unable to be checked by blowing, we should say it's valid (B"Y in the name of Ran, Sh"D and MHRY"W in Shaarim, R' Yerucham, and excluding Kolbo and O"H).