<unk> pad. In medicine, a<unk> is a kind of surgical appliance, particularly one used for hernia patients. A<unk> provides support for the herniated area, using a pad and belt arrangement to hold it in the correct position, just when it is put on before moving from bed. Of historical interest, a variety of<unk> s are listed in the Snowden & Brother's catalog of the American Civil War era. Early versions of the hernia<unk> were daunting contraptions made from leather and steel with metal springs. The 19th century Eggleston's<unk> from Chicago was described as follows: "Eggleston's<unk> has a pad different from all others. It is cup-shaped, with a self-adjusting ball in the centre, and adapts itself to all positions of the body, while the ball in the cup presses back the intestines just as a person does with the finger. With light pressure the hernia is held securely day and night, and a radical cure is certain. It is easy, durable and cheap." Later developments resulted in the Cluthe<unk>  described in Cluthe's Advice to the Ruptured, first published in 1912. This book also describes dozens of hernia cases which appeared to be cured by this relatively primitive<unk>  Such testimonials are no longer considered to be scientific evidence. Currently most doctors and surgeons do not prescribe<unk> s. Even some of today's<unk> s use metal springs to apply pressure to the hernia, via a pad which can be quite hard, and usually bulges into the hernia. This inward bulging prevents the edges of the hernia from coming together and could, in theory, enlarge the hernia. Many<unk> s also do not fit well. It is difficult to design a<unk> which keeps the pad permanently in contact with the hernia. Unless a<unk> can achieve this purpose, the hernia may continue to enlarge. External devices such as a<unk> to maintain reduction of the hernia without repairing the underlying defect can be used to avoid surgical risks, mainly chronic pain risk.
Truss 
Microgyrus
Syrinx 
Curette
Ateronon
Ranula
Tophus
Optician