Paul Fürst, “Der Doctor Schnabel von Rom” by Prof. If only they did! While they certainly did put those aromatic items, like cloves, myrrh, mint, roses and juniper berries, into the masks to protect them, this was in hindsight not very effective at all! This is because the strategy was built on now outdated medical practices and theories. Myth 4: The beak and its contents actually protected the Plague doctors from the Plague This means that in the centuries preceding and during the height of the Black Death pandemic, Plague doctors did not look at all how we or the media imagined them. This ensemble, however, was not invented until 1630, when Charles de L´Orme introduced them in Naples. When we think of Plague doctors, we probably all imagine them in their spooky reaper-like costume, usually consisting of waxed fabric overcoats, breeches connected to boots, tucked-in shirts, leather gloves, masks with glass eye openings, and most importantly, a beak-shaped nose (filled with various herbs, straw and spices). Myth 3: Plague doctors always wore their iconic beak costume, especially during the Plague´s peak in the 14 th century.
Additionally, some Plague doctors advised patients about their conduct before death.
For this reason, they also at times performed autopsies. Their main purpose was really to track the spread of the Plague throughout different demographics, which is where many of the public records of the pandemic come from. While Plague doctors did treat patients, they could rarely cure them. Myth 2: The main task of Plague doctors was to cure people of the Bubonic Plague.īack in Medieval times, medical procedures were far from being as effective as they are today. Some of them even lacked any medical training whatsoever, such as the “Empirics” in the Netherlands and France. Often young, these inexperienced doctors were only trying to establish themselves in their field. The positions were in large parts filled with rather unseasoned or unsuccessful physicians. Myth 1: Plague doctors were mysterious, anonymous, and powerful figures.Ĭontrary to the mystique that has built up around plague doctors, most of them were not exactly the most accomplished in their fields. Often regarded as one of the most grim parts of human history, the Plague is estimated to have killed between 75 and 200 million people, with its peak being in the 1340s and 1350s. The term “Plague doctor” refers to the physicians that treated victims of the Bubonic Plague (also known as ‘The Plague’, or ‘The Black Death’) during its multiple outbreaks throughout the 14 th to 19 th centuries. We are approaching Halloween during a global pandemic where people are advised to wear masks, so what could possibly be more topical than the iconic appearance of Plague Doctors? Now, most people are quite familiar with their striking and spooky appearance, but let´s take a look at what they did, some common misconceptions about them, and the history of the Plague Doctor costume!
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