Who Were Plague Doctors Why Did They Wear Bird Masks?

Have you ever heard about the plague doctors? And do you know why they wear a bird mask on their face? If not, this blog is for you!! Here are some pieces of information about the plague doctors and their interesting facts you must know.

What are Plague Doctors?

Plague doctors remained a symbol of horror for hundreds of years. Featured in all forms of art, paintings, and video games, these birdlike professionals were famous to the public. Despite their popularity, there are many misconceptions about them. 

When Did Plague Doctors Exist?

The bubonic plague outbreak, the black death, was the earliest recorded and worst pandemic in the 14th century. Treating the deadly disease became a medical emergency during that time. Doctors had to protect themselves from infection, so they adopted a famous robe, mask, and hat combo. This served two purposes: shielding themselves and helping the public identify them to seek immediate medical help. The medical treatment didn’t vary too much from the early modern counterparts, but the plague doctor outfit of the 17th and 18th centuries had a new approach to dealing with the disease. 

Plague Doctor History

Several physicians existed during the medieval period. Physicians received university training, while surgeons had no formal education and were considered inferior. Surgeons were often associated with barbers and were allowed to pull teeth and draw blood. Apothecaries were responsible for dispensing drugs and herbs during the Middle Ages. Women were also knowledgeable; all the doctors were men familiar with natural remedies and prepared tonics and medicines in their homes. 

During the outbreak of the plague, a new type of doctor evolved. They were specific physicians who were famously known as plague doctors. They were specialized in plague treatment and prevention. Plague doctors were hired by villages in the 14th century throughout the next four centuries whenever the plague popped up. 

In the 17th century, plague doctors started wearing protective gear/uniforms to protect themselves from their patients. In 1619, Charles de L’Orme designed and invented the concept of a long, dark robe worn with boots, gloves, and a hat. 

Why Did Plague Doctors Wear Bird Masks?

They wore plague uniforms to cover their entire bodies. The outer layer of the costume was made of goat leather coated with wax. Under the uniform was the blouse tied to their boots. 

The plague masks were often associated with air purity. During the 17th and 18th centuries, people believed that polluted air could result in the spread of this deadly plague. The eye holes of the plague masks were fitted with glass pieces so doctors could see, and the long noses on the masks were filled with aromatic herbs, camphor, cloves, rose petals, and drugs to filter the air. 

The herbs also helped doctors avoid the smell of dead bodies. Plague doctors wore hats to indicate that they were doctors. The hats were more symbolic than functional, but they kept some bacteria away. 

Plague doctors used canes for many practical purposes. They treated and helped prevent the plague. They used a cane to handle patients without touching them directly. They also used a cane to protect themselves from desperate patients and assist helpers in disposing of the bodies of dead patients. 

What Did the Plague Doctors Do?

Plague doctors played a crucial role and made beneficial contributions. They had a large amount of detailed information about their patients. They kept registers of the number of victims for public records, documented people’s last wishes, and also testified witness wills. Their service to the public was beyond medical care. 

Though the medieval period is not famous for medical advancements, plague doctors were asked to dissect the body to yield forensic and anatomical information to determine the cause of the death and investigate more on the mysterious disease that was killing people quickly. 

After serving as a plague doctor for some time, they spent at least 40 days in isolation and separated themselves from the rest of the population.

Interesting Plague Doctor Facts

Here are some truly fascinating plague doctor facts:

• These terrified plague masks were made with air purity. In the 17th and 18th centuries, they learned that the air could be polluted, and it became widespread. The doctors sought to prevent the bad air from getting to them and affecting them.
• Did you know? Those long noses of the mask are filled with drugs and aromatic herbs like mint, cloves, rose petals, and myrrh to filter the air while they breathe. This herb helps them with the smell, considering that the dead bodies that doctors dealt with are rather pungent.
• The human body has four humors, they are blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile-that need to be in balance. These humors may be balanced with the help of diet, herbs, and natural remedies, but if things got too serious or out of control, then the blood would be removed entirely from the body.
• When it came to treating the plague, doctors tried to remove all the toxic imbalance from the body by bloodletting their patients.
• Other treatments included instructing patients to drink their urine or consume medicines made from eggshells, marigolds, and treacles. Patients were also rubbed with onion, garlic butter, flower petal compounds, or even animal parts on their bodies in an attempt to eliminate the illness.
• If the patient’s condition worsened and they were nearing death, they might even be coated with mercury and baked in an oven for a while as an extreme attempt to combat the disease.
• The doctors also used to document the people’s last wishes and witnessed wills being sorted. Their service to the patients went beyond just providing the medical care.

I hope this blog helps you know more about the plague doctors, why they wear bird masks, and their history. The plague doctors’ appearance remains a powerful symbol of the terrific disease. Today, this plague doctor serves as a reminder of medical care.