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A hernia occurs when an organ or part of the body protrudes through the muscle wall in the body. This truss is used to support a hernia in the groin. Hernias of this type are caused by physical effort, or even through excessive coughing, and were once a very common problem among labourers and the elderly. 

Today they are usually easily corrected by a simple surgical procedure, but before the National Health Service began in 1948, hernias were often left untreated, causing a great deal of pain. The truss, constructed from cloth-covered metal, was made by S Maw, Sons and Son, a surgical and medical instrument maker based in London.

maker: S Maw, Son & Sons

Place made: London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Double truss for the treatment of a hernia, London, England,

Advertisment for Cole's patent trusses, early 19th century

Etching showing a truss for femoral hernia (top picture). The diagram below shows 'Admiral Markham's sick berth'. It consists of A) sleeping place; B) dispensary; C) round-house; D) desk, over which is a sky-light; EE) drawers, etc.; abc) doors.

Truss (top); sick berth on ship (bottom), c. 1806

Advertisements  on pages 21and 22 of something. Includes adverts for Swindon Iron Works, the Cheltenham Free Press and Gloucestershire Herald (est.1834), the Truss and Bandage Manufactory (104 High Street, Cheltenham, est. 1842) by William Moody Bell, selling trusses, bandages, enemas, surgical instruments, galvanism and electicity medically applied ("Mrs. Moody attends ladies"), Gloucestershire Spa (mineral waters, baths, walks and rides). Possibly 1850s.

Ruck's improved portable medical galvanic apparatus : sold wholesale and retail

3 pages, 1 folded leaf of plates : illustrations

Improvements in trusses

2 pages, 1 folded leaf of plates : illustrations

Observations on trusses

Hints for the improvement of trusses...

Improvements in surgical trusses

4 pages, 1 folded leaf of plates : illustrations

Improvements in rupture trusses

Improvements in trusses for hernia

White's truss pamphlet.

An improved truss for rupture

Improved truss pad

Improved springless truss

Patent for "an improvement on single and double trusses"

7 pages, 1 folded leaf of plates : illustrations ; 28 cm

Specification of Philip Pindin : trusses.

3 pages, 1 folded leaf of plates : illustrations ; 28 cm

Specification of Thomas Lambe : trusses.

2 pages, 1 folded leaf of plates : illustrations ; 28 cm

Specification of Thomas Lewis : truss.

Specification of James Rawlinson : trusses.

Specification of William Goldfinch : truss.

Specification of Robert Gillespie : trusses.

6 pages, 1 folded leaf of plates : illustrations ; 28 cm

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Double truss for the treatment of a hernia, London, England,

Advertisment for Cole's patent trusses, early 19th century

Truss (top); sick berth on ship (bottom), c. 1806

Ruck's improved portable medical galvanic apparatus : sold wholesale and retail

Improvements in trusses

Improvements in trusses

Improvements in trusses

Observations on trusses

Improvements in trusses

Improvements in trusses

Hints for the improvement of trusses...

Improvements in surgical trusses

Improvements in rupture trusses

Improvements in trusses for hernia

White's truss pamphlet.

An improved truss for rupture

Improved truss pad

Improved springless truss

Specification of Philip Pindin : trusses.

Specification of Thomas Lambe : trusses.

Specification of Thomas Lewis : truss.

Specification of James Rawlinson : trusses.

Specification of William Goldfinch : truss.

Specification of Robert Gillespie : trusses.

Specification of George Evans : trusses.

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Double truss for the treatment of a hernia, London, England,

Advertisment for Cole's patent trusses, early 19th century

Truss (top); sick berth on ship (bottom), c. 1806

Ruck's improved portable medical galvanic apparatus : sold wholesale and retail

Improvements in trusses

Improvements in trusses

Improvements in trusses

Observations on trusses

Improvements in trusses

Improvements in trusses

Hints for the improvement of trusses...

Improvements in surgical trusses

Improvements in rupture trusses

Improvements in trusses for hernia

White's truss pamphlet.

An improved truss for rupture

Improved truss pad

Improved springless truss

Specification of Philip Pindin : trusses.

Specification of Thomas Lambe : trusses.

Specification of Thomas Lewis : truss.

Specification of James Rawlinson : trusses.

Specification of William Goldfinch : truss.

Specification of Robert Gillespie : trusses.

Specification of George Evans : trusses.

Stay in the know

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