The doctor's office of the
turn of the century now seems completely unfamiliar to us. The typical physician of our time operates out of a hospital or
office complex with a vast array of high-tech equipment. The doctor's office of
the past, however, was quite different. Physicians in the nineteenth and early
twentieth century typically operated out of the front room or parlor of their
home or had a two-room office (waiting room and examination room) on their
property that was detached from the house. In the case of larger cities such as
Youngstown, however, doctor's offices were usually located in the downtown
business district, typically on the second floor of a building. While some
offices had the waiting room separate from the examination room, it was quite
typical to have the two rooms combined, much as you see here. This situation
was not practical or efficient and patients often complained about being
examined in front of others. The interior of doctor's offices at the turn of the century was not particularly attractive. They were extremely cluttered and quite simple. The interior of most offices consisted of an examination table, the doctor's desk (cluttered with books, papers, and bottles), a few chairs for patients to wait, and a spittoon-a necessity in the tobacco chewing days. It was proper and common for the doctor of this period to display his library, microscope, diplomas, pictures of eminent professional friends and teachers, or anything else that was especially associated with their medical studies and career. Although doctors were advised to keep objectionable objects such as skeletons and anatomical specimens hidden from the public eye, many had a human skull or a whole skeleton in plain view because it exhibited their knowledge and interest in anatomy. All of this was soon to change. Indeed, the development of a spacious, modern, and attractive doctor's office was just on the horizon.
Melnick Hall Youngstown State University 655 Wick Ave. Youngstown, OH 44555
Ph. 330-941-4661 Fax. 330-941-3734