(ESOPHAGOTOMY. 85 



duce a probe pointed bistoury or a scissors blade into the 

 lumen of the oesophagus and split its wall. The mucous 

 membrane is white and lies in thick longitudinal folds. 

 When there is a foreign body in the oesophagus the opera- 

 tion is performed at the point where it is lodged in the 

 manner described and the incision should be made only 

 large enough to permit its removal. In diverticuli of the 

 oesophagus an elliptical piece of the mucous membrane 

 which has been overstretched is cut out. The oesophageal 

 wound is closed by a laminated suture, that is, the mucous 

 membrane is united by means of an intestinal suture and 

 the muscular wall closed over this. The skin and muscular 

 wound may either be left open or closed with the Bayer 

 suture and bandaged with a drainage tube in the lower 

 angle. 



