Plague doctor mask3/16/2024 ![]() The plague, an illness caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis, circulated Eurasia and North Africa for thousands of years, occasionally exploding into devastating pandemics that killed millions. His outfit, though, was actually an early example of personal protective equipment.Ĭlothing Against Death (1656) by Gerhart Altzenbach. If today's protective clothing is impersonal, its 17th-century equivalent was downright sinister.Įven if you've never heard of a plague doctor, you've almost certainly seen an image of one: an imposing figure in an ankle-length cloak, a wide-brimmed hat and, most strikingly, a beak-shaped mask.įar from your approachable family physician, the plague doctor looks like something out of a nightmare. Our modern equipment, though, has nothing on the medical garb of the Renaissance. Some have even taken to wearing photographs of themselves on their gowns to help their charges, many of whom are facing a life-or-death struggle, feel less alienated, less alone. ![]() Since the onset of the pandemic, doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners who find themselves working closely with COVID-19 patients have traded their familiar white coats and scrubs for plastic gowns, vinyl gloves, respirator masks and face shields.Ī number of physicians have written about how much more difficult it is to build rapport with patients through the barrier of all this personal protective equipment. (Anagoria/GNU Free Documentation License) Still hunting for a spooky and on-theme Halloween costume? Don one of these beaked masks – you’ll have the perfect answer if people ask you why they were ever worn.This is a 17th-century German or Austrian plague doctor mask, from the collection of the Deutches Historisches Museum. Interestingly, the inventor of the “uniform,” de l’Orne, lived until his 90s. In some situations, doctors had to perform autopsies for the recently departed.Įven with this outfit (which modern medicine will tell us was next-to-useless), many doctors still died from the disease. They also kept a tally of the death toll, buried the dead, and recorded the last wishes of those dying. The Role of the Plague Doctorġ7th century plague doctors did more than just treat the afflicted. Not only did they make the “bad air” smell better – these herbs and flowers were thought to actually counteract the disease. Common additions included roses, carnations, mint, cloves, myrrh, camphor, or a vinegar sponge. In the bottom of the beak sat dried flowers and herbs, which were meant to make the smell more pleasant for the wearer. What are plague doctor masks, and what went into their design? Curved glass lenses covered the eyes of the plague doctor mask, and a large beak shaped piece covered the mouth and nose. Plague doctors would carry a long cane to inspect the flesh of those overcome with the plague, to move a patient during treatment, or possibly to ward off those who sought treatment. ![]() The beaked mask portion covered the entire face and intended to protect the wearer from the unwanted smells of disease.Īs a sign of status (and as was typical fashion of the time), the doctors also wore a black hat. Many thought that the disease was airborne, and that these accessories would prevent doctors from breathing in deadly air. Why did doctors choose to wear these beaked masks when treating patients? The full head-to-toe leather outfit (including boots, pants, blouse, and apron) was meant to protect doctors by preventing unwanted contact with those who had the Plague. de l’Orne was a renowned 17th century physician who served as chief physician of Henri IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV. ![]() However, historians believe it actually wasn’t invented until about 200-300 years later in the 17th century by Charles de l’Orne. The plague doctor uniform is most closely associated with the Black Death that swept Europe during the mid-1300s. What are plague doctor masks? And why did physicians once swear by them to defend against disease? The Origin of the Plague Doctor Mask These beaked masks were always a popular accessory (even before the COVID-19 pandemic brought them back into the pop culture world), but you may be surprised to learn about their medical origins. As you search for the perfect spooky Halloween costume, you might come across a plague doctor mask or two.
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