History of Treatments for Hemorrhoidal Disease

Abstract

Hemorrhoidal disease is one of the oldest-known diseases in human beings. In ancient times, treatments for anal disorders came in the form of local applications made from different plants and trees, and sometimes blood-loving animals were used. Hippocrates proposed that hemorrhoids be cured by a white-hot iron or simply burning them off. In Hebrew writings, the anus was referred to as "the secret part" and thereafter it was called an "undiscussable disease". For a long time, this negative attitude toward anal disease was a major impediment to rational treatment. Throughout the Middle Ages, attempts were made to inject various chemical materials into hemorrhoids, but these treatments sometimes caused severe complications; treatment was in the hands of quacks in the 19^th century. At about this time, various hemorrhoidectomy procedures were invented and later modified. The founding of St. Mark's Hospital and hemorrhoidectomy with high ligation originally developed by Salmon marked historical turning points. Japan introduced modern western medicine at the beginning of the Meiji Era and replaced conventional domestic methods.
In the West in the 19^th century, necrotizing injection treatment spread widely. Whitehead's technique, which had been abandoned in England several decades earlier, continued to be commonplace in Japan. At present, in addition to Milligan-Morgan's technique, recently developed sclerosing agents and operative devices are used.