[If] a hide has an olive’s volume of flesh on it, one who touches a shred that protrudes from it or a hair that is opposite it is tamei. [If] there were two half-olive-sized pieces [of flesh] on it, it conveys tumah through carrying but not through contact; [these are] the words of R’ Yishmael. R’ Akiva says: Neither through contact nor through carrying. But R’ Akiva agrees that [if] one thrust a chip through two half-olive-sized pieces and moved them, he is tamei. Then why does R’ Akiva declare them tahor [when they are] on the hide? Because the hide renders them negligible.

A marrow bone of a corpse or a marrow bone of sacrificial animals: [if] one touches them either closed or punctured, he is tamei. A marrow bone of a neveilah or a marrow bone of a sheretz: [if] one touches them when they are closed, he is tahor; [if] they are punctured at all, they convey tumah through contact. How do we know that the same applies to carrying? Because Scripture states (Leviticus 11:39-40): He who touches . . . and he who carries . . . — whatever comes within the scope of [tumah through] contact comes within the scope of [tumah through] carrying; whatever does not come within the scope of [tumah through] contact does not come within the scope of [tumah through] carrying.

The egg of a sheretz in which an embryo has been formed is tahor; [if] it has been punctured even slightly, it is tamei. A mouse that is half flesh and half earth: [If] one touches the flesh, he is tamei; [if he touches] the earth, he is tahor. R’ Yehudah says: Even [if] he touches the earth opposite the flesh, he is tamei.

The limb and flesh that dangle on an animal convey the tumah of foods in their place, but require preparation. [If] the animal is slaughtered, they become prepared through its blood; [these are] the words of R’ Meir. But R’ Shimon says: They do not become prepared. [If] the animal dies: the flesh requires preparation, the limb conveys tumah as the limb of a live creature, but it does not convey tumah as the limb of a neveilah; [these are] the words of R’ Meir, but R’ Shimon declares it tahor.