The 1994 G. Brohée Lecture (Los Angeles). The scientification of gastroenterology during the 20th century.

At the occasion of the Georges Brohée Lecture presented at the 10th World Congress of Gastroenterology in Los Angeles (1994), the author makes a brief history of Georges Brohée (1887-1957), Belgian Surgeon and Radiologist who promoted modern Gastroenterology, in particular by founding the Belgian Society of Gastroenterology in 1928 and by organizing the first International Congress of Gastroenterology in Brussels in 1935. His continuing efforts culminated in the constitution of the "Organisation Mondiale de Gastro-entérologie" (OMG) which prepared the first World Congress of Gastroenterology for 1958. In the second part, the author continues his description of the scientific development of Gastroenterology during the 20th century. The following topics are treated: gastrointestinal endoscopy, enteric microflora with emphasis on the discovery of Helicobacter pylori, of Tropheryma Whippleii and of antibacterial agents, gastrointestinal immunology.