Dermatophone

/dɜːˈmætəfoʊn/ noun

Definition

A device or instrument used to examine or transmit sound through the skin, or a stethoscope variant designed for skin examination.

Etymology

From Greek 'derma' (skin) + 'phone' (sound), a rare medical instrument term from 19th-century dermatological practice.

Kelly Says

This obscure instrument represents an abandoned attempt to use sound vibrations to diagnose skin conditions—it was eventually superseded by better imaging technologies like ultrasound.

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