The author first reviews the action of corticoids in general, then their beneficial as well as unwanted effects on a corrosive lesions of the oesophagus. Management depends above all on the pathology of the lesions, in practice on endoscopic findings. Local contra-indications are severe necrosis and profuse gastric bleeding. Distal (i.e. gastric) injury is more frequent than is commonly realised as ingestion of corrosives precludes its investigation. The experience of 45 cases has shown that 50% of acid and 70% of lye burns will benefit from corticolherapy. If prescribed, it must be given from the third day onwards; earlier administration will impair the proliferation of fibroblasts necessary for repair; afterwards it will be too late to forestall their transformation into fibrocytes responsible for the future and already unpreventable stenosis.