Shammai says: [Regarding] all women their times [of discovering a discharge of blood] suffice for them. Hillel says: [They are considered tamei] from [the time of their last] examination to [the time of their present] examination, even for many days. But the Sages say: [The law is] neither in accordance with the words of this one nor in accordance with the words of that one; rather, “twenty-four hours” reduces [the time of] “from examination to examination,” and “from examination to examina-tion” reduces [the time of] “twenty-four hours.”  [For] any woman who has a [fixed] period, her time suffices for her.  And one who [examines herself] with examination cloths when she engages in marital relations, this [examination] is the equivalent of a [regular] examination, and reduces the [time of] “twenty-four hours” and [the time of] “from examination to examination.”

1. All handles of utensils that were inserted improperly, or they were inserted properly but were not finished, or they were finished but became broken — these intervene. [If] a vessel was immersed with its mouth downwards, it is as though it was not immersed. [If] it was immersed the normal way [but] without its appendage, [it does not become tahor] unless it is turned on its side. A vessel which is narrow at both ends and wide in its middle cannot become tahor unless it is turned on its side. A bottle whose rim is turned downwards cannot become tahor unless it is pierced on its side. A layman’s inkwell cannot become tahor unless it is pierced on its side. Yosef HaKohen’s inkwell was pierced on its side.

2. A mattress or cushion of leather require that the water should enter into them. [But] a round pillow, a ball, a stuffed form, an amulet or a tefillah do not require that the water should enter into them. This is the general rule: Anything [whose contents] are not usually put in and taken out may be immersed unopened.

3. The following [knots] do not require that the water should enter into them: knots of a poor man[’s clothes]; of fringes; of a sandal thong; of a tefillah of the head if it is tight; [of a tefillah] of the arm if it does not move up and down; of a waterskin lug; of a pouch lug.

4. The following [knots] do require that the water should enter them: the knot of the shoulder of an undershirt; [the knot of] the edge of a sheet — one [also] has to spread it out; [the knot of] a tefillah of the head if it is not tight; [of a tefillah] of the arm if it moves up and down; of sandal straps. Clothes that are immersed when washed [need only be immersed] until they produce bubbles. [But if] they are immersed when dry, [they must stay immersed] until they produce bubbles and cease bubbling.

5. All handles of utensils that are [too] long and will be cut [short] need [only] be immersed up to the [prescribed] length. R’ Yehudah says: Only if it is completely immersed. [The prescribed length for the] chain of a large bucket is four handbreadths; [for the chain] of a small bucket — ten handbreadths. They need be immersed [only] up to these [prescribed] lengths. R’ Tarfon says: Only if the link is completely immersed. A string tied to a basket is not [considered] a combination unless it is sewn on.

6. Beis Shammai say: We may not immerse hot water in cold water, or cold water in hot water, or clean water in foul water, or foul water in clean water. Beis Hillel say: We may [so] immerse [them]. [If] one immersed a vessel that is filled with liquid, it is as though it was not immersed. [But if] it is filled with urine, it is regarded as water. [If] it is filled with purification water, [it is not cleansed] unless the water [of the mikveh] is more than the purification water. R’ Yose says: Even if a vessel with a capacity of a kor contains only one reviis [of these liquids], it is as though it was not immersed.

7. All foods can combine to make up the amount of half a pras that disqualifies a person. All liquids can combine to make up the amount of a reviis that disqualifies a person. This is a stringency in the case of drinking tamei liquids over the case of a mikveh: [viz.] they made other liquids the same as water.

8. [If] one ate tamei foods or drank tamei liquids and [then] immersed himself [and then] vomited them up, they remain tamei, because they do not become purified in the body. [But if] he drank tamei water and [then] immersed himself and [then] vomited it up, it is tahor, because it can become purified in the body. [If] one swallowed a ring that is tahor, and he entered a tent [containing] a corpse, and [then] he had himself sprinkled upon, and [the sprinkling] repeated, and he immersed himself and then he vomited it up, it is as it was before. [If] one swallowed a ring that is tamei, he can immerse himself and eat terumah; [if] he vomits it up, it is [still] tamei and it renders him tamei. [If] an arrow is stuck into a person, when it is visible it intervenes. If it is not visible, he may immerse himself and eat terumah.