(From the belly, and a suture). Gastroraphy. This word strictly signifies the sewing up any wound of the belly; yet in common acceptation it implies that an intestine is wounded as well as the belly. This operation is useless in small wounds, but necessary in large ones. The best method is to pass double ligatures in one needle, in order to include the rolls at one end, and to be tied upon them with bow knots on the opposite side, which gives an opportunity of straitening and loosening the knots at pleasure. After passing as many ligatures as seem necessary, the lips of the wound are brought gradually together, and kept so until the knots are tied.

The operation of stitching the bowels can only take place where they fall out of the abdomen, so that we can see the situation and nature of the wound in the intestine. It requires no particular direction; but the end of the ligature must be suffered to hang without the external wound, that it may be more easily removed. See Sharp's and Le Dran's Operations.