Stethoscope belonging to Dr John Clague

Date made: c.1880

Description: This stethoscope belonged to Dr John Clague. Born in 1842, Clague attended King William's College before studying at Guy's Hospital, London. Returning to the Isle of Man he was concurrently Surgeon to the Household of the Lieutenant Governor, Surgeon to Castle Rushen Gaol, Medical Officer to the Castletown garrison, Surgeon to the Royal Naval Reserve battery and Medical Officer to King William's College.

The stethoscope has an ebony shaft, with ivory discs at either end forming the chestpiece and earpiece.

In an age before the NHS, Clague believed that financial hardship should not bar a person from medical attention. His memorial notice stated: 'Fees were with him a secondary consideration, and it is an open secret that he was never paid for half the work he did. The poor had in him a sincere friend, and indeed he was just as assiduous and careful in his treatment of patients from whom he well knew he would never receive a penny of remuneration as he was with regard to the rich and influential folk who came under his professional care.'

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Measurements: 17 x 6 x 6 cm

Materials: ivory, wood

Object name: stethoscope

Collection: Social History Collection

ID Number: 1954-4221

Subject tags : SHIC 1.411 - Welfare and wellbeing, Health & SHIC 2.70 - Medical, General Family wellbeing

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