Dr Gilbert’s Stethoscope
Brora Heritage Centre
Dr Robin Gilbert was the Brora GP for 11 years from 1964 to 1975. In those days, rural Highland GPs were on duty 24 hours a day, and in some cases for 365 days of the year. Dr Gilbert could receive a phone call in the middle of the night and drive to the far-flung corner of the parish to attend a medical emergency, or even be called to help a colleague in a neighbouring parish.
Dr Gilbert kindly donated his medical items to Clyne Heritage Society in 2006, including this stethoscope.
His modern stethoscope has a metal disc called a resonator, attached to a tube. This tube splits in two so that the ends can be inserted into the doctor’s ears. The resonator is placed against the front or back of the patient and the doctor can detect any irregularity in the patient’s specified organs.
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