Powtórzonego Prawa 17:1 Halacha: Sefer HaChinukh & Mishneh Torah, Negative Mitzvot

The laws of the commandment: For example, the [types of] “torn” animals that were [instructed] to Moshe at Sinai, and they are the eight main categories (avot, Chullin 54a): the clawed; the pierced; the lacking; the removed; the split; the torn; the fallen and the broken. And the clawed is the most severe of all, since it is explicit in the Torah. And hence, they, may their memory be blessed, said (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Ritual Slaughter 5:3) that any doubt that comes about it [renders it] forbidden. And with other “torn” animals, there are some wherein a doubt is permissible. And each and every one of these main categories has many, many derivatives, as their listings come in the Gemara. And the tally of all the “torn” animals that it is possible to find in a domesticated animal, a wild animal or a bird that comes in our hand from their listing — as it would appear from the words of the Gemara — is seventy-two, with one more in the birds than the animals. And they cannot be added to and they cannot be subtracted from; since it is possible that a domesticated animal or a wild animal or a bird could survive from any wound contracted by [other ailments], except for these that the Sages enumerated in the early generations and about which the Israelite courts agreed — and even [if] we know by way of medicine that its end is not to survive. And all of these wounds that they enumerated and said that they were [in the category of] “torn” animals — even if it appears according to the ways of medicine in our hands that some of them do not kill and it is possible that it will survive it — you only have what the Sages enumerated, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 17:1), “According to the instruction.” And each one of the seventy-two “torn” animals that we mentioned is elucidated at length with all of its conditions in Tractate Chullin.

Not to sprinkle the blood of blemished cattle upon the altar, as it is said, “Ye shall not offer unto the Lord” (Lev. 22:24). This refers to the sprinkling of the blood.

Not to offer up a beast that has a temporary blemish, as it is said, “Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord, thy God, a bullock or sheep wherein is a blemish” (Deut. 17:1). This refers to a passing blemish.