The finding of excrescences and polypoid projections of the mucosa in various parts of the alimentary tract is a comparatively frequent occurrence in the post-mortem room. The association of these with inflammation of the intestines, or at least a clinical history of dysentery, while not so frequent, has, nevertheless, been noted and described in the literature for a considerable time.
In 1721 Menzel1 described a case in which there was a general inflammation of the intestinal tract and in the colon there were a number of wart-like excrescences. He presents with his report a crude etching of about 7 inches of the colon (Fig. 1). On it there are fifteen polypoid projections. The specimen was removed from a soldier who died of chronic dysentery.
In 1832 Wagner2 in his description of the manner of healing of dysenteric ulcers noted that sometimes on the margins of the scars