Plague doctors were individuals in the Middle Ages who were given the task of tending to people infected with the plague. In most cases, they were either second rate or under-trained physicians, incapable of maintaining their own practice. Many were not doctors at all, but people of various other employments paid by towns to cater to the sick. 

Plague doctors were employed in various methods when ever plague set in. The earliest documentation of these individuals being hired go as far back as the mid 500s AD. The plague doctor image that we as a general public are familiar with was not seen until the 1600s. It was then that the “traditional” plague doctor costume was created. The costume consisted of a cloak made of heavy fabric covered in wax to protect the doctor’s body, and a mask to keep out the sick air. The masks had a long cone shaped structure at the nose, to be filled with scents that would protect the doctor from the bad air.

Because of the nature of their work, plague doctors often became victims of the plague themselves, or were quarantined for the protection of the public.

POST NOTES:

POST DETAILS: Posted on June/13/2012
Originally Posted by: alexxxiselizabeth Reblogged From: sabrinadora

1. peterpansleftelbow reblogged this from hausoflads
2. ghostsmakeflowersbloom reblogged this from thisisntw0nderland
3. carotideae likes this
4. bluphenshtanzing likes this
5. hausoflads reblogged this from alexxxiselizabeth
6. all-the-world-s-a-stage reblogged this from nightmarepunk
7. ashyboo221 reblogged this from nightmarepunk
8. triplegatsby likes this
9. tyler-in-torment reblogged this from nightmarepunk
10. vancedrayton likes this
11. soft-space likes this
12. ijustwannabesexy reblogged this from sarawroar
13. hauntedasspunk reblogged this from nightmarepunk
14. doomsdayaverted reblogged this from blackphoenixalchemylab
15. lamechop likes this
16. cunterellasupreme reblogged this from nightmarepunk
17. maiea-osc reblogged this from blackphoenixalchemylab
18. foxlavender reblogged this from deviouslydoomed
19. sarawroar reblogged this from miraculousbeing
20. patyfer likes this
21. patyfer reblogged this from metalonmetalblog
22. purlbird reblogged this from trophywife
23. hortyloveslooch reblogged this from tkmybaby
24. i-see-london-i-see-france reblogged this from festering-feral
25. festering-feral reblogged this from ever-found
26. spottedporcupine reblogged this from eurekaeffect
27. tkmybaby reblogged this from brad-marcgand
28. mermaid-vision likes this
29. translyvanlala likes this
30. theres-songs-about-me likes this
31. frankenbones likes this
32. carryonmywaywardson-ofcoul reblogged this from averageordinarysuperhuman
33. monroe-goddess reblogged this from nega-rae
34. veggie-vixen likes this
35. sanityimpaired1214 likes this
36. jaqlvalzer reblogged this from alexxxiselizabeth
37. radarfox likes this
38. likeathistle likes this
39. nudiemuse likes this
40. disarmonia-mundi likes this
41. nightmarepunk reblogged this from the-whimsical-raven
42. napkinlord reblogged this from swagdolf-hipstler
43. screwyouandeverythingyoustandfor reblogged this from armed-and-fully-caffeinated
44. akitheshinigamia likes this
45. screwyouandeverythingyoustandfor likes this
46. ksmithsf likes this
47. decipher-your-reality reblogged this from fiveminutemajor
48. youcankissthatonegoodbye likes this
49. armed-and-fully-caffeinated reblogged this from mauvaisbatteur
50. armed-and-fully-caffeinated likes this
51. Show more notesLoading...