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Item 7

Wooden object

Monaural stethoscope

1820–39

Boxwood, paper

X2

 

Stethoscopes have been used to diagnose cardiovascular disease since the early-19th century. Invented by French doctor René Laennec (1781–1826), this early wooden monaural (one-eared) style was used until the 1860s, when the familiar binaural (two-eared) style became popular.

 

Wooden stethoscope.

 

 

View catalogue entry for monaural stethoscope

 

 

 

 

Part of the exhibition Unfamiliar.

Explore further:

Wooden object
Brown disk with raised areas on orange smoky background
Previous: Item 6
Dark item with clear tube on left, on smoky red background
Next: Item 8

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