Differential stethoscope

Made:
1910-1940 in England
Differential binaural stethoscope, English(?), 1910-1940

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Differential binaural stethoscope, English(?), 1910-1940
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Differential binaural stethoscope, English(?), 1910-1940

Two chest pieces make this design different from the standard binaural stethoscope. Sounds from two different areas of the body could be heard simultaneously and compared. It also gave the physician a better chance of pinpointing the source of a sound.

The differential stethoscope was first described in 1859 by Scottish physician Dr Somerville Scott Allison (1813-1877). He was an expert in both pulmonary tuberculosis and heart disease. However, his instrument was not of much use and therefore not widely used.

Details

Category:
Clinical Diagnosis
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A625089
Materials:
tubing, rubber, ear-pieces, wood and chest-pieces, wood
Measurements:
overall - previous: 22 mm x 410 mm x 175 mm, .12 kg
overall - current: 30 mm x 410 mm x 200 mm,
type:
stethoscope
credit:
Loan, Wellcome Trust