The article describes the main achievements in the study of ulcerative colitis (UC) - a disease known since ancient times. «Bloody» non-epidemic diarrhea was described by Hippocrates. The first detailed description was made by K. Rokitansky in 1842. In 1875, S. Wilks and W. Mason first studied the pathomorphology of the colon in UC. The term «non-specific ulcerative colitis» was proposed by the Russian surgeon A. S. Kazachenko in 1913 at the 13th Congress of Russian surgeons. The historical excursion presents the main stages and achievements of surgical treatment of UC.
Keywords: history; surgical treatment; ulcerative colitis.