Stethoscopes!

The Littmann Master Cardiology is great. Magna Fortis is also good and not as expensive. Try Stethoscopes.com or just google stethoscopes. Whatever you get, don't drape it around your neck unless you buy it a sweater. (oils from neck will cause tubing to harden). The Littman has a 7 year warranty so you can get new tubing while it's under warranty. Also watch it carefully & don't lend it to anyone. As someone else said here, "they tend to grow legs." I think the Magna Fortis has a lifetime warranty.

Try a search on this site and you will come up with lots of info. There are some places that will engrave your scope for you too...good idea as they do tend to walk sometimes.

Personally, I have a Littmann Classic SEII but once I graduate (hmmm, 2weeks!!!!) I plan on getting a Littmann cardiology III as my "me" gift. If you are thinking littmann (it is pretty much the gold standard) take a look at http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/allheart/littmanncompare.pdf it is a pdf chart comparig their different models.