As I find more articles will post. I did this type of research years ago in hopes of pinning down something that might be the cause. But so many things have changed since the the 20th century began it might be impossible. Feel free to post info you might find.
Old Mike
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/7/175.pdf
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?start=10&q=colitis+incidence+history+1920&hl=en&as_sdt=0,39&as_vis=1
Here is a good one not about UC but about diverticular disease, and the changes in diet since 1850 or so.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1796198/pdf/brmedj02261-0052.pdf
And then we have the Radical Induction Therory which is also a good read,i have read it in the past.
The hydrogen peroxide enemas are the clue, and they were the first animal IBD model,which really
was close to human colitis.
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/11/2371.asp
This one again talks about food and N-6 PUFA being the cause even if you are genetically predisposed.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18240547
Click on the full text online and you will get the paper.
Post Edited (Old Mike) : 3/22/2012 6:46:42 AM (GMT-6)