ESOPHAGOTOMY 



73 



recurrent nerves. The esophagus feels like a round muscle 

 within which one can distinguish a firmer cord, the mucous 

 membrane. When brought into view the organ has a pale 

 red color, and it, with the trachea, is surrounded by the 

 deep fascia of the neck. Pass one finger around the 



»'1G. 26 

 Ligation of tlie common carotid artery 



c, Common carotid artery ; /, jugular vein ; v, vagus nerve ; s, sym- 

 pathetic nerve ; r, recurrent nerve ; p, cervical panniculus carnosus 

 muscle ; vi, sterno-maxillaris muscle ; st, levator humeri muscle. 



esophagus from behind, draw it away from the trachea, 

 force a passage through the deep fascia of the neck and 

 draw it out through the external wound. After making an 

 incision through the esophageal muscle and mucous mem- 

 brane, introduce a probe-pointed bistoury or a scissors 

 blade into the lumen of the esophagus and split its wall. 

 The mucous membrane is white and lies in thick longitudi- 

 nal folds. 



When there is a foreign body in the esophagus, the 

 operation is performed at the point where it is lodged, in 



