Fainting Couch. Fainting couches were popular in the 19th century and were particularly used by women. Women in Victorian-era societies almost universally wore corsets, which would put substantial strain on the wearer's midsection and also restricted blood flow. When a woman would ascend stairs in a house or other structure, she would often feel faint and a well-appointed home or building would have a fainting couch at the top of every set of stairs for her use.
