Plague doctor

„Doktor of Rome“ Artwork of Paulus Fürst 1656. With such clothing doctors in Rome wanted to protect themselves from getting the Black Death (in Rome, 1656).

A Plague doctor was a doctor in the 1300s who tried to stop plague from spreading.

Clothes

The doctors would also carry canes to poke bodies to test if they were still alive and to remind them to stay the correct distance away. The doctors could also examine patients using the cane. The doctors would wear large masks that looked like birds' beaks. This was because people believed the plague spread on bad air. The beaks of the masks were filled with plants, vinegar sponges, or perfume to protect the doctor from the bad air. Plague doctors wore robes covered in wax so body fluids would not stick to it. They wore glass goggles over their eyes. They would wear goggles if they could.

In popular culture

People in the Venetian Carnival dress as plague doctors.

Plague Doctor Media

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  Paul Fürst, engraving (coloured), c. 1656, of a plague doctor of Marseilles (introduced as 'Dr Beaky of Rome'). His nose-case is filled with herbal material to ward off the plague.

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  Plague doctor outfit from Germany (17th century).