[The past and future of proctology]

Since antiquity, surgical treatments of anorectal lesions were performed by barbers and surgeons; proctology became with time a surgical speciality well defined and recognized todays. History of proctology is illustrated by some important figures and events: St. Fiacre, Felix the surgeon who operated on King Louis XIV's fistula and the acutely thrombosed hemorrhoidal prolapse of Napoleon.