Shabbat 110: A Snake Who Desires a Woman

Is the Gemara talking in code? For part of this daf, it seems so. Beginning with remedies to cure someone who was bitten by a snake - presented as an event that happened, even Abaye relates to the case as going beyond its physical example. Which leads into other cases including snakes like you've never seen before, including a woman and a sexually promiscuous snake (is it code? We explore this question with the help of Dr. Shai Secunda and his excellent treatise that includes discussion of this case). Plus: how far does the mishnah's statement that all foods are permitted to eat on Shabbat, even if they also are used for healing. Likewise, all drink. And, the Gemara notes, people do not ever drink urine. Also: A book on biblical and talmudic medicine turns up in Yardaena's house.