PEPTIC ulcers in infants were described about one hundred and twenty years ago by Cruveilhier,1 whose writings clearly illustrated 3 cases of gastric ulcers in infants, 1, 2 and 4 weeks old, respectively. It is commonly believed that this disease rarely occurs in infants and children. Therefore, its possibility has not received the consideration it justly deserves in cases of feeding difficulties, anemia, gastrointestinal disturbances and marasmus of obscure nature.
Judging from reports in the literature, it appears that the disease is commoner in the United States and on the European continent than it is in Great Britain. Paterson2 stated that only 3 British cases had been reported prior to 1922 and that in the twenty years previous no case had been encountered at the Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London. As attention has been drawn to this condition, more and more cases are being recognized and reported.