![]() ![]() His arrival could only mean one thing: the Black Death is nearby. His eyes are large glass domes and his nose is long and pointed, like a raven’s beak. But the most frightening feature of all is the terrible face. A wide-brimmed hat, also black, rests on his hooded head. Walking slowly down the street is a foreboding figure dressed in all black, the coat or gown nearly reaching the ground. The sun is starting to set and movement outside the window catches your eye. Shops are closed, the churches are empty and food supplies are starting to run low. ![]() Your friends and neighbors are disappearing one by one and it is anyone’s guess as to where they fled or if they are even still alive. Rumor has it the baker and his family are in mandatory quarantine. They died within a week of the celebrations. You are still in mourning for the recent loss of two of your cousins who probably were exposed to the Black Death at Carnivale in February. And there you were, centuries later, feeling just as helpless as your ancestors had. It was said that the world had lost a third of its population by the year 1400. You grew up hearing tales of the Black Death wiping out entire towns in the late 1300’s. 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.You live with your family in Milan, Italy, where you were born and raised. 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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