Congenital occlusion is quite frequently reported.
Dilatation of the colon frequently occurs as a transient affection, and by its action in pushing up the diaphragm may so seriously interfere with the action of the heart and lungs as to occasionally cause heart-failure.

Fenwick has mentioned an instance of this nature.
According to Osler there is a chronic form of dilatation of the colon in which the gut may reach an enormous size.

The coats may be hypertrophied without evidence of any special organic change in the mucosa.

The most remarkable instance has been reported by Formad.

The patient, known as the "balloon-man," aged twenty-three at the time of his death, had had a distended abdomen from infancy.