Doctors in the 50s

I remember doctors in the 50s routinely making house calls and often having the requisite medicines with them; they seemed prepared to come out in the evening or at night if the patient needed it. My doctor used 2 of his own house rooms for his surgery – one as a waiting room and the other as his surgery; he seemed to deal with all his own paperwork, records and filing; an ashtray was on his desk and he used to smoke during consultations. I am pretty certain that 'back then' smoking was normal in the waiting room too!