Since that time oesophageal dilatation has been carried out using either bougies or endoscopic balloons, and can be used to treat benign oesophageal strictures and achalasia.
He shares a long tradition with fellow dictators who have a penchant for crazy titles, weird philosophies, megalomaniac monuments and arbitrary social strictures.
As some of his previous work, it deals with hedonistic time-wasting as a means of (temporary) escape from the strictures of capitalism and adult responsibility.