Congenital atresia and stenosis of the intestine, exclusive of the pylorus, rectum and anal canal, is a relatively rare condition, occurring in about 1 of 20,000 infants. We have been able to find mention of more than 500 instances previously reported in the literature, though this number probably does not include all the recorded cases. In this paper we are submitting the report of 2 instances that came under our observation and 15 additional cases from the records of the department of pathology of the University of Minnesota.1
In the two cases that we observed, the nature of the condition present was correctly recognized, and both patients were operated on, with the unfortunate lethal ending that usually attends the condition. Many authorities regard atresia of the intestine as an irremediable condition with an invariably fatal outcome. A study of the literature, however, reveals that the infants in nine isolated