In 1854 on St. Mark´s day, the 25th
April, the “St. Marks´s Hospital for Fistula and other Diseases of the Rectum” was opened at City Road in London in a dedicated new building with 25 beds. Within the next decades, the speciality of
colo-proctology was developed by Frederick Salmon and other surgeons at St Mark´s. In 1897, a first extension to the Hospital was built. After the first world war a decision was taken for a second expansion,
up to 93 beds, and “cancer” was added to the Hospital´s title.
In 1922, GastroIntestinal Pathology was established at St Mark´s Hospital in London with the appointment of Cuthbert Dukes. Research
became an integral part of the hospital´s work. All surgical specimen of rectal cancer were carefully dissected. With the support of HJ Richard Bussey (since 1924), Dukes became a pioneer in staging the
spread of rectal cancer: hence the “Dukes´staging”.
From 1956, Basil Morson
has developed Gastrointestinal Pathology as a new subspeciality. In 1972, Morson and Dawson published the first textbook of this field. After his retirement he was succeeded by Jeremy Jass
(from 1986-1990) and Ian Talbot (from 1990).
When St Mark´s Hospital left in 1995 its time honoured building in Central London, it moved to NorthWest London. There Ian Talbot was joined by Ashley
Price. Both retired in 2004.
From June 2004 to December 2005, Thomas Günther and me, Axel von Herbay, have continued the distinguished tradition of G I Pathology at
