It's been 200 years since the stethoscope was invented. The stethoscope was invented in France by René Laennec at the Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital in Paris. It consisted of a wooden tube and was monaural.
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The Stethoscope was invented because a French doctor felt uncomfortable placing his face on a younger woman's chest.
Before stethoscope, doctors put ear directly to body.
Here are some pictures of ancient stethoscopes that were used in past century.