A mid 19th century ebony monaural stethoscope, circa 1850.

The monaural (i.e. for one ear) stethoscope was invented in 1816 by René Laennec (1781-1826).

Height: 17.5 cm.

Diameter: 5.5 cm.

René Laennec (1781 – 1826) was a French physician and musician. His skill at carving his own wooden flutes led him to invent the stethoscope in 1816.