2016-02-17 Wed

René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laennec the inventor of stethoscope was born on 17th February 1781. He invented the stethoscope in 1816, while working at the Necker Hospital and pioneered its use in diagnosing various chest conditions.

He identified for the first time that the cardiac cycle consisted of two sounds and described the auscultatory findings in cardiac and pulmonary disease. He also introduced his method of mediate (or indirect) percussion, striking the chest with his fingers while listening with his stethoscope.

France issued a 12 Franc stamp on 7th November 1952 in honour of the physician René Théophile Hyacinthe Laennec (1781-1826). The stamp features a line drawing of Rene Laennec by Charles Mazelin. The stamp was issued from November 1952 to March 1953.