Paul,

This is interesting. last night I was watching “The killing of a Chinese Bookie” – John Cassavetes 1976 – and in one part the lead character who is jewish mentions that he read a story about two girls who caught a gopher and then took it home, cut the tail off -leaving the beast alive- ate the tail then both died of botulism. This lead character found the story very very amusing unlike his non jewish audience. I think it must be connected to this law you cite about not eating a living animals flesh…

I have read many reviews of the film but none mention this reference. The film, by the way, is absolutely pants and I turned it off half way through.