Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1364

RENé THéOPHILE HYACINTHE LAENNEC (1781-1826) De l'auscultation médiate, ou Traité du diagnostic des maladies des poumons et du coeur J. A. Brosson et J. S. Chaudé 1819 Vol. I: xlviii, 456 [8] pp., 4 fold. plates; Vol. II: xvi, 472 pp. 20.3 cm.

Laennec was undoubtedly the most prominent French internist of his day. His ingenious use of a roll of paper as a first stethoscope opened an entirely new field of physical diagnosis, and by this means he virtually created the physical diagnosis of pulmonary diseases, giving clear, concise definitions of phthisis, pneumothorax, emphysema, etc. From his teaching came such terms as bronchial breathing; vesicular and cavernous respiration; mucus, bubbling, and sonorous rales; metallic tinkle; and egophony. Ironically, cirrhosis (his term) of the liver (Laennec's cirrhosis) is perhaps more often associated with Laennec than the fact that his invention of the stethoscope was the most important advance in physical diagnosis between Auenbrugger's introduction of percussion in 1761 and Roentgen's discovery of X-rays in 1895. Several folding plates in this landmark volume illustrate the construction of Laennec's primitive tubular wood stethoscope.

Cited references: Cushing L5; Garrison-Morton 2673; Osler 1318; Waller 5491; Wellcome III, p. 429

Gift of John Martin, M.D.