sb. Also 9 erron. stethescope. [a. F. stéthoscope (Laennec, the inventor, c. 1819), f. Gr. στῆθος chest + σκοπ-εῖν to look at, observe: see -SCOPE.] An instrument used for examining the chest or other part by auscultation, the sounds of the heart, lungs, or other internal organs being conveyed by means of it to the ear of the observer.
1820. Med. Jrnl., XLIII. 165. The instrument used by M. Laennec, and to which he has applied the term stethoscope.
1824. J. Forbes (title), Original Cases, with Dissections and Observations illustrating the use of the Stethoscope and Percussion.
1828–32. Webster, Stethescope.
1861. Brit. & For. Med.-Chirurg. Rev., XXVIII. 147. Bin-aural stethoscopes,… meant to intensify the sound … by conveying it simultaneously to both the ears of the auscultator.
1861. Alb. Smith, Lond. Med. Stud., 13. A stethescope—a curious instrument, something like a sixpenny toy-trumpet.
fig. 1861. Sat. Rev., 7 Sept., 238. The stethoscope which will record … the true state of the financial health of the States will be afforded by the market rates of Federal securities.
Hence Stethoscope v. trans., to apply a stethoscope to, examine with a stethoscope. Stethoscopic [= F. stéthoscopique], -scopical adjs., pertaining to, of the nature of, observed or obtained by a stethoscope. Stethoscopically adv., by means of the stethoscope. Stethoscopist, one who uses a stethoscope. Stethoscopy [= F. stéthoscopie], examination of the chest or other part with a stethoscope; the use of the stethoscope.
1840. A. Ewing, in A. J. Ross, Mem. (1877), 66. He would be much better able to judge if I would allow him to stethoscope me.
1865. Spectator, 30 Sept., 1084. He has been repeatedly stethescoped, and his lungs pronounced perfectly sound.
1828. Lancet, 23 Feb., 755/1. A *stethoscopic examination performed by a student.
1861. S. S. Alison, Phys. Exam. Chest, 336. The hydrophone … is more an acoustic than a stethoscopic instrument.
1867. E. Yates, Forlorn Hope, x. The *stethoscopical examination, and the prescription-writing.
1876. Bristowe, Th. & Pract. Med. (1878), 374. Many so-called dull sounds become obviously musical when tested *stethoscopically.
1828. Lancet, 23 Feb., 755/1. The minute scrutiny of the attentive and accurate *stethoscopist.
1859. G. Wilson, Mem. E. Forbes, iv. 132. The skill which has characterized the Edinburgh stethoscopists.
1848. Dunglison, Med. Lex., s.v. Stethoscope.… This mode of examining affections of the chest, *Steth′oscopy … is what Laënnec terms Auscultation médiate.
