The original caption may contain language which is historic and which may no longer be considered appropriate. It has been retained in the record in the interest of historical accuracy.
The caption on the reverse of the photograph reads: “Hernia operation on 14 day old baby. Twenty eight days old John Stevens, who at the Wilson Hospital, Mitcham, was operated on for strangulated hernia at the age of 14 days. This picture was taken 14 days after the operation and shows its complete success. (Picture to illustrate article in “Nursing Mirror” by Miss Welham, Sister-Tutor, Wilson Hospital, Mitcham)”
Hernias occur when an internal body part pushes through a weakness in muscle or tissue; an abdominal wall hernia occurs due to a weakness in the abdominal wall, through which the intestine can move. A hernia becomes strangulated when the weakness in the abdominal wall closes whilst part of the intestine is still pushed through, thus cutting off the blood supply to part of the intestine and causing the death of affected bowel tissue. This complication is life-threatening and requires immediate surgery. Strangulated hernias can be congenital (present at birth), or may be caused by the degenerations of abdominal muscles. Welham’s article was titled “Operation for strangulated hernia on a 14 day old baby”, and appeared in the Nursing Mirror on 24th February 1940. See also MED01/1211. High-resolution copies of this image are available for free for non-commercial use. Please Enquire to place an order.
This is part of the Series: MED01/01 Series of prints; within the Collection: MED01 Topical Press Agency Medical Collection
Source: Historic England Archive
Photographer: Topical Press Agency Limited
Photographer: Harrison, Norman Kingsley
Hospital, Women's History, Health And Welfare
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