The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-26

Over 100 young women are employed in
the doctors and dentists Offices Of Min
neapolis, and though each doctor has
work for but one, the number Of appli-
cations for such positions come in
steady stream. "It is no exaggeration to
say that I have over 100 year, said
one physician, refectively.
Just why the positions should be con-
sidered so desirable is a mystery. The
pay is small, and, though the work is
light, the hours are long and exacting.
An attendant must be in the office from
the time it is open, at 8 or $3.50 clock,
and remain until it is closed, at 6 O'Clock.
The hour at noon often is grudgingly
given, so much so that the attendant
brings her luncheon with her.
The duties vary, although the hours
seldom do. Some of the attendants are
only office girls, and are there to answer
Inquiries or respond to the telephone, to
receive patients and make appointment
They have much leisure time and they
spend it doing fancy work or reading.
Their pay ranges from So to $3.50. a week,
and they are able to live on it,. for the
most OF them dwell at home and have
only to furnish the clothes or small lux
uries that they would rather work down
town for than be without.
The office attendant who can make out
f~.~~F
the books is worth more, and she can
count on from IS to So a week, while
to the girl who is clever enough to make
herself useful, who can assist the doctor
in his treatments and who can occasion,
ally give simple treatment herself, is
paid $40 week-and she earns every cent
of it.
+ 1t is not so many years since the doctors
attendant was young man, just begin
ming his medical studies, who went into
an office for preliminary reading before
entering college. He remained only long
enough to acquire the knowledge that ne
sought and then gave place to another.
The continuous change was annoying TO
the doctor and the man gradually gave
place to the girl who usually remains three
or four years or until matrimony takes
her into another sphere Strangely
enough none Of the doctors could recall
any case where an attendant had been
interested enough in medicine to take up
the study. It is not uncommon during
the vacation to find medical students act
ing as attendants in the Offices OF special
lists, but their work is different. from that
of the ordinary girl attendant. One OF the
women doctors is to have with her this
summer medical student from Ann Ar
Dor who is curious to see what the daily
grind Of woman doctor is and will OBJ
tain her information in a practical way.
What is true Of medicine is true OF
dentistry. The duties of q dentist at
tendant are even more arduous than those
Of a PHYSICIANS and she must learn the
different instruments, where they belong
and how to keep them in order. She NAL
lets the gold for the operator unless he
uses the new automatic tool-and stands
ready to hand him the different instru-
ments and by her deftness and ability
hastens or retards the operation. 1t takes
three or four months for her to acquire the
knowledge that will make her really use
| full and dentists bemoan the fact that as
soon as she becomes indispensable she
marries and an unframed girl comes to
make demands on their patience.
! Women attendants in the Offices OF ply
sicians and dentists are more of a novelty
in the east and south than In the west.
They have been employed in this city for
SO long that the fact excites little COM
sment. In Canada no man doctor would
think of employing a woman attendant,
for fear Of offending the proprietors and
in the east men. preferably colored men,
are still in favor.
A woman is more adaptable, more
i tactful than man. There Is lot OF
detail about the duties Of dentists
4 attendant that is abhorrent to a man,
4 who naturally dislikes petty, little things
Then, too, woman is more tidy, she
keeps the instruments in better order
4 and the last. but by no means the small
lest consideration, Is that her services
may be obtained much more cheap1y. a
/ girl enters an office just as she goes into
a shop, she merely wants employment
4 until she smarries.: Her ambitions are not
for greater advancement in her work
while man must look forward and make
j provision for the added expenses which
4 will come to him when he has persuaded
! the shop or oflce girl to give up her