![]() L’Orme’s protective suit consists of several elements that are easily recognizable. Special physician clothes for preventing pestilence (Germany, XVII century) at Jena ( CC BY-SA 3.0 ) The man attributed with the invention of this ‘plague suit’ is Charles de l’Orme, the chief physician of three French kings (Henri IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV), and was also in the service of the Medici family of Italy. It was only in 1619 that a ‘uniform’ was invented, which became popular amongst plague doctors. Prior to the 17th century, plague doctors wore a variety of protective suits. ( CC BY 4.0 ) Who Invented the Plague Doctor Suit?Īs plague doctors were in contact with victims of such a deadly disease, they were at risk of falling ill themselves, and therefore had to take precautions that would minimize this risk. The Plague that brought down mighty empires is thousands of years older than thoughtĪ physician wearing a seventeenth century plague preventive costume.The Black Death: the Plague that Sowed Terror and Death in Medieval Europe - Part 1.At times, plague doctors were even requested to conduct autopsies, in order to better understand how the plague might be treated. It seems that most plague doctors were occupied with this aspect of their job. Furthermore, plague doctors were often summoned to testify and witness wills of the dead and dying. Plague doctors were also responsible for tallying the number of casualties in logbooks for public record, and documented the last wishes of their patients. In theory, the primary duties of a plague doctor were to treat and cure victims of the plague, and to bury the dead. Plague doctors were public servants hired by villages, towns, or cities when a plague struck. These were European physicians who specialized in treating victims of the plague, the best known example being the Black Death. The plague doctor is arguably one of the most enigmatic figures to have emerged from the Middle Ages. But what does it mean? The Various Roles of Plague Doctors While plague doctors have been plying their trade since the Middle Ages, it was only after this period, during the 17th century, that they acquired their creepy trademark costume. Though the image is iconic the relationship may be a little anachronistic. The dance reminded people of how fragile their lives were and how vain the glories of earthly life.The plague doctor mask is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Black Death. It consists of an allegory of Death leading a a group of dancing figures to the grave (usually an emperor, king, pope, monk, peasant, child, all as skeletons). One of the most known works of art showcasing this concept of inevitability of death is La Danse Macabre or the Dance of Death. Since the Black Death, the Plague Doctor Costume is associated with death, as a sign that plague is near. Because it had it struck so d estructively (between 30% to 60% of Europe's population died during the pandemic) and affected everyone, from kings to poor, from old to child, it remained ingrained in our culture as a memento mori. Among famous plague doctor who gave medical advice to be used against the plague were Nostradamus and Paracelsus. The largest plague epidemic was the Black Death i n Europe, in the 14th century. Plague doctors would also carry a cane to examine patients without the need to make direct contact with them.Īt the time doctors thought that the herbs would chase away the miasma, aka the "evil" smells of the plague, and thus protect them from the disease. The beak could contain dried flowers (roses), herbs (mint), spices (cloves, camphor). It was a sort of respirator, with nose holes designed for breathing. ![]() The mask had round eye-holes, covered with clear glass and a bird shaped like beak, and was attached to the face with straps. The suit consisted from a bird-like mask with spectacles, and a long leather or waxed-canvas gown, which covered the doctor from neck to ankle. The suit, as well as the gloves, leggings, boots and the hat were impregnated with fragrance extracted from spices and herbs, similar to the one used for the beak mask. Some plague doctors wore a special costume, invented by Charles de Lorme in 17th century, the physician of three French kings: Henri IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV (Le Roi Soleil). A plague doctor was a medical physician hired by city halls to treat inhabitants affected by the disease during 17th-19th centuries.
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