History and current status of Polish gastroenterological pathology.

The present paper summarizes the contribution of Polish investigators to the development of gastroenterology, and especially pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. We called to mind meritorious scientists among the 19(th)-century and modern pathologists. Especially interesting are discoveries of Browicz, being the first, who described typhus bacilli and shortly after Kupffer - fagocytozing cells in the liver. Noteworthy are detailed description of tumorous lesions being the contribution to oncological pathology of the gastrointestinal tract as well as the reports on congenital malformations (i.e. esophageal fistulas). Moreover we remind the investigators dealing with pathology of gastric ulcer disease, its pathogenesis and mechanisms of healing. Of great importance was also the discovery of regeneration existing also outside the mucosal surfaces. In the paper, besides the above-mentioned Tadeusz Browicz investigations of professors: Leśniowski, Ciechanowski, Kowalczykowa, Stachura, Konturek are called to mind.