The Ornamented Being

Well. I’m not a very science-y person but even I can tell there is something a little off with this anatomy. 

Silk Corset, Europe, 1871-1900

Science Museum of London

“Corsets were once very fashionable items of clothing, designed to be tightly pulled to give women an hourglass shape or show off a military man’s rigid and straight back. Unfortunately, excessive use could be very damaging to the internal structures of the body. To the right of the corset is a plaster cast of a female torso (A61203), dissected to show the internal organs which have become displaced after many years of corset wearing. Judging by the floral silk design, this corset was probably owned by a woman. Corsets were also worn for orthopaedic conditions where the spine needed support.”

Also, please note those are stays and they are not Victorian.

Edit: My roommate is a doctor and explained  that apparently the photographer has the torso upside down. So I fixed it for you!