Medical folklore—the use of your stethoscope's bell | 合法醫療器材資訊網

由MReschen著作·2007—Iappliedthestethoscopetomyownheartwithfirmpressure—thesoundwasdifferent,itwasthesoundIthoughtIhadbeenhearingforsevenyears.Iwas ...

In my efforts to tease out medicines innermost secrets and succeed at the final hurdle to becoming a member of the Royal College of Physicians by passing the clinical examination (PACES), I have uncovered what I consider to be an interesting and neglected fact about the bell and diaphragm of most stethoscopes.

Like a migrating bird, I return each Christmas to my birthplace, and more importantly to my parents address, and set aside a few minutes to sort through my obsolete but emotive adolescent belongings. Rummaging around, I unearthed my Littman stethoscopes box, which seemed slightly outlandish amid the photo albums and old school uniforms. Opening the box as if for the first time, I prised the instruction booklet from its foamy surround and began flicking through.

A single word caught my interest—“historical.” Fascinated, I read that the bell of the stethoscope had been...