The haunting image of plague doctors in their beaked masks and waxed robes is one that has permeated the fabric of historical lore, often viewed as a chilling symbol of death and disease. Yet, amidst the shrouded mystery and macabre aesthetics, these costumes were more than a mere fashion statement of the past; they served as an unintentional form of protection against the bubonic plague—a disease that once gripped Europe with fear and devastating mortality.
The outfits worn by 17th-century plague doctors, complete with a bird-like beak mask and a full covering from head to toe, were designed based on a fundamental misunderstanding of disease transmission. The prevailing belief of the time was that miasma, a form of “bad air,” was the culprit behind the spreading of the plague. To combat this, the masks of these physicians were filled with aromatic items like dried flowers, herbs, and spices, including roses, carnations, lavender, peppermint, and myrrh. The thought was that these pleasant scents would counteract the evil smells and protect the wearer.
Charles de Lorme, a prominent physician to the royal court of France, is often credited with devising the costume. His 1619 description outlined an outfit made of scented wax-covered Moroccan goat leather and a mask with a beak “filled with perfume” and spectacles. The ensemble also included a waxed linen robe that provided a barrier to blood, lymph, and other bodily fluids, inadvertently offering some defense against fleas—the actual vectors of the plague.
Despite the medical community’s misguided ideas about miasma and humors, it turns out that the waxed fabric of the robe indeed repelled fleas, while the full coverage shielded doctors from splattered bodily fluids. The wide-brimmed leather hat identified their profession, and wooden canes were used both to examine patients from a distance and to maintain a barrier between the physician and the infected.
The image of the plague doctor costume has endured through the centuries, even influencing Italian theatre and the iconic Carnival of Venice. The mask of Il Medico della Peste, associated with commedia dell’arte, continues to be a powerful representation of historical horror. Interestingly, the costume found new relevance during the COVID-19 pandemic, as individuals donned the attire, drawing parallels between past and present outbreaks and the evolution of protective gear.
While the plague doctor costume did not protect against the disease in the ways its wearers believed, it inadvertently reduced contact with fleas and potentially infectious materials.
Relevant articles:
– TIL that plague doctor costumes actually provided some protection during the bubonic plague. The waxed robes prevented fleas from clinging to the wearer’s body.