Features

The Stethoscope and those memories of a lifetime

Published

9 months ago

2025/04/13

Evolution of the Stethescope

“If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars.”― Rabindranath Tagore

By Dr Nihal D Amerasekera

My early childhood was spent in Nugegoda. I stayed with my grandparents smothered with love and affection. My father was helping to grease the wheels of the government far away from the Metropolis. My grandpa was an apothecary caring for the sick and the suffering. He was often seen leaving the house with his stethoscope. Whenever I fell ill he used this instrument to listen to my chest. I was simply fascinated and intrigued by this device with its brown tubes and black bell. These are my earliest recollections of this awesome instrument.

The stethoscope has become a talisman and so much of a part of every doctor. The word stethoscope comes from the Greek words stethos, meaning chest, and skopein, meaning to explore. The amazing story of the invention of this astounding instrument is steeped in history. In the autumn of 1816, Dr. Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laënnec, a French Physician was walking in the courtyard of the Le Louvre Palace in Paris. He observed two children playing. Each one had a piece of wood placed on the ear. The pieces of wood were connected by a taut string. The taps from one piece of wood reached the other piece.

In those early days the heart sounds and breathing was heard by the doctor placing the ear on the patient’s chest. Once when a young lady came to Dr Laënnec for treatment, he was bashful and felt uneasy to place his ear on her chest. He made a tube with a sheet of paper and placed one end on the chest to listen. This wasn’t perfect but caused less embarrassment to the patient and the doctor. He remembered the acoustic phenomenon used by the two boys.

Laënnec spent several years trying to perfect an instrument and decided on a hollow wooden tube that amplified the sounds. This became the forerunner to the modern stethoscope. Doctors used wooden tubes as stethoscopes until the latter half of the 19th century. It took many more years to develop the modern bell and diaphragm type of stethoscope. In 1861 an Irish physician named Arthur Leared created a binaural model with two earpieces on the ends of stiff metal tubes. In 1862 George P. Camman of New York, perfected the design using flexible tubes with smaller ear connections. This binaural stethoscope was commercially produced. In appearance his instrument is similar to the ones used today.

After I entered the faculty of Medicine in Colombo, I learnt the inherent magic of this device and how to use it as a diagnostic tool. No other symbol so strongly identifies a doctor than a stethoscope. In Sri Lanka the device became an icon of intellect and skill. Hence, doctors enjoyed great esteem from the public. Some of this adulation filtered down to medical students. Even as a student I took great pride in displaying my stethoscope prominently. I had it round my neck on my long walks in the hospital wards and corridors. This self-assured hubris among medics have now waned. The stethoscope is ubiquitously used in hospitals and surgeries by many different healthcare workers.

My grandparents

After I ended my professional life, there is an irresistible desire to return to my roots. As a Diagnostic Radiologist I never used a stethoscope. Now when I see a stethoscope it takes me back many decades to the time I spent with my grandparents. It is now a symbol of my childhood more than my profession. This transports me back to Nugegoda and those happy years.

Nugegoda then was a sleepy little town that prided itself on its peaceful ambience. People were charming, friendly and helpful. They were religious and converged on the temple and the church for refuge and direction. The landscape was green and its beauty touched us with grace. The mornings were magical as the dew on the grass shone brightly. The shady streets were lined with tall flamboyant trees. The town was a paradise for birds. There were vast stretches of uncultivated green land through which ran a few narrow dusty gravel roads. There were hardly any cars. Heavy commerce and trade hadn’t arrived here yet. There was no large industry in and around Nugegoda and jobs were scarce.

As darkness descended hundreds of bats took over the skies. I still recall how quiet and dark the nights were. We heard the eerie croaking of frogs and the din of crickets. The fireflies always remind me of Nugegoda of the 1950’s. It was only the rumblings of the Kelani Valley trains that punctuated the silence. There was no respite from the mosquitoes that tormented us every night.

My grandpa was a softly spoken, quiet, noble man from Kandy. From the time I can remember he had grey hair. He took life easy but worked diligently. The locals knew he was a medical man and came to him at all hours for help. He was much more, a philosopher, an expert in country lore, an amateur astrologer and an old character of a type that was endangered and nearly extinct. He was not interested in money except the bare minimum to sustain his family. The people respected him enormously and he relished the adulation.

My grandma was a qualified nurse in the Mold of Florence Nightingale. She was kind and caring and grew up in Ibbagamuwa near Kurunegala. Grandma was a sprightly, intelligent woman with lots of courage and foresight. She helped to drive the family forward through uncertain times.

Time passed swiftly and relentlessly. The ravages of time affected my grandparents. In the autumn of their lives, they had the respect and love of the extended family. As their eyesight and the hearing gradually failed they were mostly confined to home. Whenever I visited them, saw their decline. They had a huge repertoire of old family stories and amusing anecdotes which they shared on our visits. Grandma kept touching mementoes of our family, like photographs and paper cuttings, which she cherished immensely. To her every photo spoke volumes.

Dr. Rene Theophile Hyacinthe, inventor of the stethescope (Portrait by Nihal Amarasekera

Their end came peacefully. Grandpa passed away aged 89. I was then in London and felt the loss deeply. After his death, for grandma life became an ordeal. She led a quiet life and remained fit but frail. I have often seen her sitting alone wrapped in her own thoughts. Memories of the past stared at her from every room, photographs and family occasion. The great void in her life could never be filled. Grandma passed away at the age of 86 years. They both served their communities with pride and worked for the Health Service with dedication and devotion. I will always remember grandma’s diligence, energy and enthusiasm and grandpa’s calm, reflective kindness. To me it was an end of an era.

More than seven decades have passed since I first set foot on Nugegoda. During the past 50 years I have lived in the UK and visited Sri Lanka occasionally. On a visit to Nugegoda in 2012 the changes that greeted me were astonishing. Our former house didn’t survive the wrath of the bull dozers. It was demolished and became a car park. The town is now bustling and busy. Prosperity has come to the town with better shops, fine supermarkets, wider roads, modern communications and good transport. Bristling billboards and signposts line the roads. Many of the old houses have been pulled down. The few that remained look like relics from a lost civilisation. The nouveau riche preferred to live in large, detached houses, behind high walls and security gates.

Urbanisation of a town is inevitable but seemingly it has taken place randomly. Nugegoda has experienced a devastatingly rapid, unsympathetic expansion. The industrial and residential areas are mixed with office space. There is no designated green belt to preserve as an area for peace and relaxation. The result is a cauldron of light, noise and environmental pollution, a serious health hazard. This is what remains of the once austere, puritanical Nugegoda of the fifties. Its past elegance lay buried under layers of asphalt and concrete.

I have rambled on and revived ancient and half-forgotten memories of a town with its own personality, heart and soul. Although the magic of the old Nugegoda still haunts me the loveliness and enchantment of that peaceful town I knew, is now a distant memory. Within the time frame of a single generation, it has changed beyond recognition. It hurts when I think about its former glory and the people who made it so special.

I have painted a portrait to honour and respect Dr. Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laënnec for his brilliant and important invention. The Stethoscope transformed healthcare. But I dedicate this narrative to the memory of my grandparents. They both gave me life and hope. It is only now I realise the depth of their influence on my life. Their love, warmth and encouragement will never be forgotten.

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Features

Maduro abduction marks dangerous aggravation of ‘world disorder’

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Venezuelan President Maduro being taken to a court in New York

The abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces on January 3rd and his coercive conveying to the US to stand trial over a number of allegations leveled against him by the Trump administration marks a dangerous degeneration of prevailing ‘world disorder’. While some cardinal principles in International Law have been blatantly violated by the US in the course of the operation the fallout for the world from the exceptionally sensational VVIP abduction could be grave.

Although controversial US military interventions the world over are not ‘news’ any longer, the abduction and hustling away of a head of government, seen as an enemy of the US, to stand trial on the latter soil amounts to a heavy-handed and arrogant rejection of the foundational principles of international law and order. It would seem, for instance, that the concept of national sovereignty is no longer applicable to the way in which the world’s foremost powers relate to the rest of the international community. Might is indeed right for the likes of the US and the Trump administration in particular is adamant in driving this point home to the world.

Chief spokesmen for the Trump administration have been at pains to point out that the abduction is not at variance with national security related provisions of the US Constitution. These provisions apparently bestow on the US President wide powers to protect US security and stability through courses of action that are seen as essential to further these ends but the fact is that International Law has been brazenly violated in the process in the Venezuelan case.

To be sure, this is not the first occasion on which a head of government has been abducted by US special forces in post-World War Two times and made to stand trial in the US, since such a development occurred in Panama in 1989, but the consequences for the world could be doubly grave as a result of such actions, considering the mounting ‘disorder’ confronting the world community.

Those sections opposed to the Maduro abduction in the US would do well to from now on seek ways of reconciling national security-related provisions in the US Constitution with the country’s wider international commitment to uphold international peace and law and order. No ambiguities could be permitted on this score.

While the arbitrary military action undertaken by the US to further its narrow interests at whatever cost calls for criticism, it would be only fair to point out that the US is not the only big power which has thus dangerously eroded the authority of International Law in recent times. Russia, for example, did just that when it violated the sovereignty of Ukraine by invading it two or more years ago on some nebulous, unconvincing grounds. Consequently, the Ukraine crisis too poses a grave threat to international peace.

It is relevant to mention in this connection that authoritarian rulers who hope to rule their countries in perpetuity as it were, usually end up, sooner rather than later, being a blight on their people. This is on account of the fact that they prove a major obstacle to the implementation of the democratic process which alone holds out the promise of the prgressive empowerment of the people, whereas authoritarian rulers prefer to rule with an iron fist with a fixation about self-empowerment.

Nevertheless, regime-change, wherever it may occur, is a matter for the public concerned. In a functional democracy, it is the people, and the people only, who ‘make or break’ governments. From this viewpoint, Russia and Venezuela are most lacking. But externally induced, militarily mediated change is a gross abnormality in the world or democracy, which deserves decrying.

By way of damage control, the US could take the initiative to ensure that the democratic process, read as the full empowerment of ordinary people, takes hold in Venezuela. In this manner the US could help in stemming some of the destructive fallout from its abduction operation. Any attempts by the US to take possession of the national wealth of Venezuela at this juncture are bound to earn for it the condemnation of democratic opinion the world over.

Likewise, the US needs to exert all its influence to ensure that the rights of ordinary Ukrainians are protected. It will need to ensure this while exploring ways of stopping further incursions into Ukrainian territory by Russia’s invading forces. It will need to do this in collaboration with the EU which is putting its best foot forward to end the Ukraine blood-letting.

Meanwhile, the repercussions that the Maduro abduction could have on the global South would need to be watched with some concern by the international community. Here too the EU could prove a positive influence since it is doubtful whether the UN would be enabled by the big powers to carry out the responsibilities that devolve on it with the required effectiveness.

What needs to be specifically watched is the ‘copycat effect’ that could manifest among those less democratically inclined Southern rulers who would be inspired by the Trump administration to take the law into their hands, so to speak, and act with callous disregard for the sovereign rights of their smaller and more vulnerable neighbours.

Democratic opinion the world over would need to think of systems of checks and balances that could contain such power abuse by Southern autocratic rulers in particular. The UN and democracy-supportive organizations, such as the EU, could prove suitable partners in these efforts.

All in all it is international lawlessness that needs managing effectively from now on. If President Trump carries out his threat to over-run other countries as well in the manner in which he ran rough-shod over Venezuela, there is unlikely to remain even a semblance of international order, considering that anarchy would be receiving a strong fillip from the US, ‘The World’s Mightiest Democracy’.

What is also of note is that identity politics in particularly the South would be unprecedentedly energized. The narrative that ‘the Great Satan’ is running amok would win considerable validity among the theocracies of the Middle East and set the stage for a resurgence of religious fanaticism and invigorated armed resistance to the US. The Trump administration needs to stop in its tracks and weigh the pros and cons of its current foreign policy initiatives.

Features

Pure Christmas magic and joy at British School

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Students of The British High School in Colombo in action at the fashion show

The British School in Colombo (BSC) hosted its Annual Christmas Carnival 2025, ‘Gingerbread Wonderland’, which was a huge success, with the students themseles in the spotlight, managing stalls and volunteering.

The event, organised by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), featured a variety of activities, including: Games and rides for all ages, Food stalls offering delicious treats, Drinks and refreshments, Trade booths showcasing local products, and Live music and entertainment.

The carnival was held at the school premises, providing a fun and festive atmosphere for students, parents, and the community to enjoy.

The halls of the BSC were filled with pure Christmas magic and joy with the students and the staff putting on a tremendous display.

Among the highlights was the dazzling fashion show with the students doing the needful, and they were very impressive.

The students themselves were eagerly looking forward to displaying their modelling technique and, I’m told, they enjoyed the moment they had to step on the ramp.

The event supported communities affected by the recent floods, with surplus proceeds going to flood-relief efforts.

Features

Glowing younger looking skin

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hi! This week I’m giving you some beauty tips so that you could look forward to enjoying 2026 with a glowing younger looking skin.

Face wash for natural beauty

* Avocado:

Take the pulp, make a paste of it and apply on your face. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it with normal water.

* Cucumber:

Just rub some cucumber slices on your face for 02-03 minutes to cleanse the oil naturally. Wash off with plain water.

* Buttermilk:

Apply all over your face and leave it to dry, then wash it with normal water (works for mixed to oily skin).

Face scrub for natural beauty

Take 01-02 strawberries, 02 pieces of kiwis or 02 cubes of watermelons. Mash any single fruit and apply on your face. Then massage or scrub it slowly for at least 3-5 minutes in circular motions. Then wash it thoroughly with normal or cold water. You can make use of different fruits during different seasons, and see what suits you best! Follow with a natural face mask.

Face Masks

* Papaya and Honey:

Take two pieces of papaya (peeled) and mash them to make a paste. Apply evenly on your face and leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it with cold water.

Papaya is just not a fruit but one of the best natural remedies for good health and glowing younger looking skin. It also helps in reducing pimples and scars. You can also add honey (optional) to the mixture which helps massage and makes your skin glow.

* Banana:

Put a few slices of banana, 01 teaspoon of honey (optional), in a bowl, and mash them nicely. Apply on your face, and massage it gently all over the face for at least 05 minutes. Then wash it off with normal water. For an instant glow on your face, this facemask is a great idea to try!

* Carrot:

Make a paste using 01 carrot (steamed) by mixing it with milk or honey and apply on your face and neck evenly. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then wash it with cold water. Carrots work really well for your skin as they have many vitamins and minerals, which give instant shine and younger-looking skin.