The stethoscope was invented in 1816 by a French doctor named René Laennec for a very modest reason: he felt uncomfortable placing his ear directly on a woman's chest to listen to her heartbeat and lungs.
Out of respect and modesty, he rolled up a piece of paper into a tube and discovered that it actually amplified the internal sounds more clearly than the ear alone.
This simple act of decency not only solved his immediate problem but also gave birth to one of the most iconic medical tools, forever changing how doctors examine patients.
-
Follow for facts, not noise!