Beak doctor costume
Encyclopedia
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The plague doctor's costume was the clothing worn by a plague doctor
to protect him from airborne diseases. The costume consisted of an ankle length overcoat and a bird-like beak mask often filled with sweet or strong smelling substances (commonly lavender), along with gloves, boots, a brim hat and an outer over-clothing garment.
The mask had two small nose holes and was a type of respirator
. The mask they wore had a protruded beak
which contained aromatic items.
The beak could hold dried flowers (including roses and carnations), herbs (including mint), spices, camphor or a vinegar sponge. The purpose of the mask was to keep away bad smells, which were thought to be the principal cause of the disease in the miasma theory of infection, before it was disproven by germ theory. Doctors believed the herbs would counter the "evil" smells of the plague and prevent them from becoming infected.
The beak doctor costume worn by the plague doctors had a wide brimmed leather hood to indicate their profession. They used wooden canes to point out areas needing attention and to examine the patients without touching them. The canes were also used to keep people away, to remove clothing from plague victims without having to touch them, and to take a patient's pulse.
adopted in 1619 the idea of a full head-to-toe protective garment, modeled after a soldier's armour. This consisted of not only the bird-like mask, but of a long leather (Moroccan or Levantine) or waxed-canvas gown which was from the neck to the ankle. The over-clothing garment, as well as leggings, gloves, boots, and a hat, were made of waxed leather. The garment was impregnated with similar fragrant items as the beak mask.
This popular seventeenth century poem describes the plague doctor's costume.
The Genevese physician Jean-Jacques Manget
, in his 1721 work Treatise on the Plague written just after the Great Plague of Marseille
, describes the costume worn by plague doctors at Nijmegen in 1636-1637. The costume forms the frontispiece of Manget's 1721 work. The plague doctors of Nijmegen also wore beaked masks. Their robes, leggings
, hats, and gloves were made of morocco leather
.
This costume was also worn by plague doctors during the Plague of 1656, which killed 145,000 people in Rome and 300,000 in Naples. The overcoat was sometimes made of levant morocco. The costume terrified people because it was a sign of imminent death. Plague doctors wore these protective costumes per their agreements
when they attended their plague patients.
character called Il Medico della Peste. The character's very popular mask is associated with the early-17th century French doctor Charles de Lorme
. He adopted the "beak mask" together with other sanitary precautions while treating plague victims. The Venetian mask was normally white, consisting of a hollow beak and round eye-holes covered with clear glass. The "doctor of plague" (Medico Della Peste) is referred to as the "Plague Doctor" or "Beak Doctor".
The plague doctor's costume was the clothing worn by a plague doctor
Plague doctor
A plague doctor , was a special medical physician who saw those who had the bubonic plague. They were specifically hired by towns that had many plague victims in times of plague epidemics. Since the city was paying their salary they treated everyone, the rich and the poor...
to protect him from airborne diseases. The costume consisted of an ankle length overcoat and a bird-like beak mask often filled with sweet or strong smelling substances (commonly lavender), along with gloves, boots, a brim hat and an outer over-clothing garment.
Description
Fourteenth century plague doctors who wore a bird-like mask were referred to as "beak doctors". Straps held the beak in front of the doctor's nose. The mask had glass openings for the eyes and a curved beak was shaped like a bird's.The mask had two small nose holes and was a type of respirator
Respirator
A respirator is a device designed to protect the wearer from inhaling harmful dusts, fumes, vapors, or gases. Respirators come in a wide range of types and sizes used by the military, private industry, and the public...
. The mask they wore had a protruded beak
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
which contained aromatic items.
The beak could hold dried flowers (including roses and carnations), herbs (including mint), spices, camphor or a vinegar sponge. The purpose of the mask was to keep away bad smells, which were thought to be the principal cause of the disease in the miasma theory of infection, before it was disproven by germ theory. Doctors believed the herbs would counter the "evil" smells of the plague and prevent them from becoming infected.
The beak doctor costume worn by the plague doctors had a wide brimmed leather hood to indicate their profession. They used wooden canes to point out areas needing attention and to examine the patients without touching them. The canes were also used to keep people away, to remove clothing from plague victims without having to touch them, and to take a patient's pulse.
History
Charles de LormeCharles de Lorme
Charles de Lorme, Delorme, d'lorm, or De l'Orme , was a medical doctor. Charles was the son of Jean Delorme , who was the primary doctor to Marie de' Medici. This ultimately opened doors for Charles' medical career soon after he graduated from the University of Montpellier in 1607 at the age of 23...
adopted in 1619 the idea of a full head-to-toe protective garment, modeled after a soldier's armour. This consisted of not only the bird-like mask, but of a long leather (Moroccan or Levantine) or waxed-canvas gown which was from the neck to the ankle. The over-clothing garment, as well as leggings, gloves, boots, and a hat, were made of waxed leather. The garment was impregnated with similar fragrant items as the beak mask.
This popular seventeenth century poem describes the plague doctor's costume.
- As may be seen on picture here,
- In Rome the doctors do appear,
- When to their patients they are called,
- In places by the plague appalled,
- Their hats and cloaks, of fashion new,
- Are made of oilcloth, dark of hue,
- Their caps with glasses are designed,
- Their bills with antidotes all lined,
- That foulsome air may do no harm,
- Nor cause the doctor man alarm,
- The staff in hand must serve to show
- Their noble trade where'er they go.
The Genevese physician Jean-Jacques Manget
Jean-Jacques Manget
Jean-Jacques Manget was a Swiss physician and writer. He was an assiduous compiler of previous medical literature.He wrote in particular a major treatise on the bubonic plague...
, in his 1721 work Treatise on the Plague written just after the Great Plague of Marseille
Great Plague of Marseille
The Great Plague of Marseille was the last of the significant European outbreaks of bubonic plague. Arriving in Marseille, France in 1720, the disease killed 100,000 people in the city and the surrounding provinces. However, Marseille recovered quickly from the plague outbreak. Economic activity...
, describes the costume worn by plague doctors at Nijmegen in 1636-1637. The costume forms the frontispiece of Manget's 1721 work. The plague doctors of Nijmegen also wore beaked masks. Their robes, leggings
Leggings
Leggings are a type of fitted clothing covering the legs, which can be worn by both men and women.Originally leggings were two separate garments, one for each leg....
, hats, and gloves were made of morocco leather
Morocco leather
Morocco leather is a leather made from goatskin, dyed red on the grain side and then tanned by hand to bring up the grain in a bird's-eye pattern....
.
This costume was also worn by plague doctors during the Plague of 1656, which killed 145,000 people in Rome and 300,000 in Naples. The overcoat was sometimes made of levant morocco. The costume terrified people because it was a sign of imminent death. Plague doctors wore these protective costumes per their agreements
Plague doctor contract
A plague doctor contract was an agreement between a town's administrators and a "doctor" to treat bubonic plague patients. These contracts are easy to find in European city archives. A plague doctor was specifically hired by a European city or town to treat plague patients, rich or poor, in times...
when they attended their plague patients.
Culture
The costume is also associated with a commedia dell'arteCommedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century, and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft"; it is shortened...
character called Il Medico della Peste. The character's very popular mask is associated with the early-17th century French doctor Charles de Lorme
Charles de Lorme
Charles de Lorme, Delorme, d'lorm, or De l'Orme , was a medical doctor. Charles was the son of Jean Delorme , who was the primary doctor to Marie de' Medici. This ultimately opened doors for Charles' medical career soon after he graduated from the University of Montpellier in 1607 at the age of 23...
. He adopted the "beak mask" together with other sanitary precautions while treating plague victims. The Venetian mask was normally white, consisting of a hollow beak and round eye-holes covered with clear glass. The "doctor of plague" (Medico Della Peste) is referred to as the "Plague Doctor" or "Beak Doctor".