Sir Samuel Wilks (1824–1911), in a case report written in 1859, was the first physician who used the term “ulcerative colitis” to describe a condition similar to what is understood as UC today. Also, waves of cholera spread across the globe in the 19th century, drawing attention to communicable causes of diarrhea. 3 This theory arose from a rise in anatomical investigation and in the use of the microscope at this time. Both François-Joseph-Victor Broussais (1772–1838 CE) and John Brown (1810–1882) put forth theories that all diseases derived from inflammation in the GI tract. 2 The prominence of inflammation of the gut was featured in several early 19th century medical schools.
2 Even Hippocrates (~ 460–370 BCE) discussed the many possible etiologies of diarrhea. There are reports by physicians of chronic diarrhea dating back to Greek antiquity. The earliest descriptions of ulcerative colitis are subject to debate. But this is not to say that UC appeared before Crohn's disease (CD) - both conditions were likely afflicting patients long before modern medicine was able to distinguish them. Thus, the early history of IBD is the history of UC. 1 UC was the first subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to be characterized as a distinct entity. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease of mucosal inflammation limited to the colon, often characterized by bloody diarrhea, tenesmus and abdominal pain. Crohn's disease, History, Inflammatory bowel disease, Ulcerative colitis 1 Ulcerative colitis 1.1 Discovery and definition (ancient times - 1909)