The status of the embryo is also indicated by its treatment as an appendage of its mother (ubar yerekh 'imo Hullin 58a) for such matters as ownership, maternal conversion and purity law.[9] In even more evocative language, the Talmud states in a passage on priestly rules that the fetus is considered to be mere water until its 40th day.[10] In another passage the Talmud speaks of a moment of d