George Phillip Cammann (1804–1863): A physician's contribution to the modern stethoscope and auscultatory percussion

Abstract

In the middle third of the 19th century, George Phillip Cammann became known for the stethoscope improvement that came to bear his name and for the development of the then-popular diagnostic technique of auscultatory percussion. During his postgraduate training at the Paris hospitals in 1828–1830, he acquired a special interest in auscultation while attending lectures given by a friend and colleague of Laennec's, French physician Pierre-Charles-Alexandre Louis (1787–1872). In his New York City practice, caring primarily for the working poor, he recognized the need for a better stethoscope and developed a modification that came to bear his name. He conducted research aimed at increasing the accuracy of physical diagnosis by improving and reporting on the technique of auscultatory percussion. An examination of the medical literature, both textbooks and journals, reveals the extent of influence that Cammann had on clinical practice resulting from his contributions to the improvement of the stethoscope and auscultatory percussion.