| ~ 2250 BC |
Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon described
the symptoms of hemorrhoids |
| 1700 BC |
Egyptian papyrus described the use of topical astringent
lotion. |
| 1552 BC |
Egyptian medical record noted the remedies for hemorrhoids.
|
| 460 – 375 BC |
Hippocratic
Treatises described the treatment of hemorrhoids
by cautery and excision. Also, first recorded use of
endoscopy (use of speculum to inspect the rectum by
Hippocrates). |
| |
Old Testament, Samuel 5:9 Philistines punished with
“emerods”.
Old Testament, Samuel 5:12 People who moved the Ark
to Ekron were punished with “emerods”. |
| 25 BC – AD 50 |
Pile ligation described by Celsus. |
| AD 41 - 68 |
Roman physician Dioscorides described the use of Aloe
Vera for easing hemorrhoids. |
| AD 130 – 200 |
Galen, physician of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius,
described treatment of hemorrhoids with ointment, laxatives,
and leeches. He also wrote about using a thread to tie
off piles, and cause them to shrivel up. |
| 4th – 5th Century
|
Indian text Susruta Samhita described the use of
clamp and cautery. |
| 5th - 10th Century |
El-Zahrawy, an Arab physician, described the use
of cautery irons. During this time, Byzantine physicians
used thread to ligate the base of the hemorrhoid, followed
by its amputation. |
| 1307 – 1370 |
John of Ardene wrote a treatise on the treatment of
hemorrhoids and fistula, as well as the use of enemas. |
| 1806 |
Bozzini ushered in the modern era of endoscopy by using
an aluminum tube to see the genitourinary tract. |
| 1835 |
Frederick Salmon founded the St. Marks Hospital in London,
and provided modern treatments of fistula and hemorrhoids. |
| 1849 |
Anal dilation was introduced as a treatment for hemorrhoids. |
| 1935 |
E.T.C. Milligan and C. Naughton Morgan further developed
excision / ligation method at St. Marks Hospital –
now considered the gold standard in hemorrhoidectomy. |
| 1952 |
Modification to the Milligan-Morgan procedure introduced
by Ferguson. |
| 1955 |
A.G. Parks developed the closed method of hemorrhoidectomy. |
| 1963 |
J. Barron developed an out-patient procedure of using
rubber band to tie up hemorrhoids. |
| 1970 |
Cryotheraphy, infrared coagulation,
diathermy, and laser cauteries were developed. |
| 1975 |
P.H. Lord developed anal dilation as a treatment for
hemorrhoids. W.H.F. Thompson hypothesized that hemorrhoid
develops from anal cushions, which are normal anatomical
structures. |
| 1997 |
Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids (PPH) or stapled
hemorrhoidectomy introduced in Italy by A. Longo |
