![]() The reality is that most plague doctors were commissioned by cities and villages to treat all citizens as the poor made the working class and the wealthy could not afford to lose working hands. A common misconception suggests that only wealthy people could afford the services of a plague doctor while the poor suffered without a cure. This meant that they were to be hired by local authorities or in fact, the rich. Did Plague doctors treat everyone or only the rich?įirst of all, plague doctors were public servants. With the help of their canes, plague doctors were able to show signs or point directions for their helpers. Last but not least, beaked masks made communication almost impossible. In other words, the canes served for protection in case the patients attacked the doctor or so. Maybe you cannot but try to imagine being infected with a much deadlier disease than Covid-19 without any chance of survival with the undeveloped medicine of the 17th century. Moreover, you can imagine how desperate a dying person can be. Especially with people in terrible conditions or already dead, it was a good way to remain at a distance and give your final verdict on the case. The most obvious reason why plague doctors had canes is the ability to examine patients from a certain distance. Their canes had a variety of purposes including communication But, even if it did not protect them from the bacteria, it at least made the smell of dead bodies more bearable. Honestly, I cannot imagine lasting long if I had to breathe in all these strong aromas with each inhale. They were filled with a plethora of herbs and drugs including mint, rose petals, cloves, and a bunch of other aromatic alternatives. The long beaks were supposed to purify the air that plague doctors inhaled. Unfortunately, wasn’t as effective as people thought back in the day. Would you trust a doctor wearing this kind of depressing costume in the 21st century? Most likely not but this post-Medieval costume signaled the profession of the doctor.Īs for the famous beaked mask, so commonly sold as a souvenir in shops nowadays or as a Halloween mask, it had a logical purpose. The famous Plague doctor beaks were used for air filtration ![]() Although their methods weren’t as effective as they believed they were, which was proven by modern research and testing, we have to appreciate their efforts. It was only after the progress in medicine during the 16th and 17th centuries that doctors realized the dangers of polluted air and searched for trustworthy protection. As a matter of fact, these medical authorities had no such protection during the deadliest Black Death plague in the 14th century. No, this costume was only created in 1619, many centuries after plague doctors emerged. Here is the most common misconception – that all plague doctors wore the famous protective gear that we so often see on Halloween masquerade balls. The original Plague doctors did not have the famous protective suit It is curious how wrong the general perception about Plague doctors is and how little people actually know about these mysterious historical figures. ![]() Probably the best-known doctors of the Middle Ages are the so-called Plague Doctors. The world experienced many pandemics and plagues during the Middle Ages and the centuries after, which greatly helped the development of medicine and the emergence of various types of doctors. Their popularization in books and movies has led to a completely wrong assessment, which presents them as almost mythological figures. Plague doctors are a frequently discussed topic, but there are many misconceptions about their role and work.
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