Plague doctor costume: Difference between revisions
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De Lorme's plague protective suit modeled after a soldier's amour |
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A '''beak doctor costume''' was an ankle length overcoat and a bird-like beak mask worn by a [[plague doctor]] to protect him from airborne diseases.<ref name="BodySystems">Pommerville (Body Systems), p. 15</ref><ref>Bauer, p. 145</ref><ref>Abrams, p. 257</ref><ref>Byfield, p. 26</ref> Fourteenth century plague doctors that wore this bird-like mask were referred to as "beak doctors".<ref> Geography Magazine April 1991, p. 19, '' Plague doctors of the 14th century wore disctintive bird-like masks and were known as beak doctors.'' <br /> :*[[Ulrich's Periodicals Directory]], ulrichsweb.com or email ''magazine at geographical.co.uk,'' Content Type : Academic / Scholarly </ref> Straps held the beak in front of the doctor's nose.<ref name="Ellis202"/> The mask had glass openings for the eyes and a curved beak was shaped like a bird. The beak led to the nickname "beak doctors."<ref name="BodySystems"/><ref name="Ellis202"/><ref>Byrne (Encyclopedia), p. 505</ref> The mask had two small nose holes and was a type of [[respirator]]. The mask they wore had a protruded [[beak]] which contained aromatic herbs.<ref> Time-Life Books, pp. 140, 158 </ref><ref> Ellis, p. 202 </ref> The beak held dried flowers (including roses and carnations), herbs (including mint), spices, camphor or a vinegar sponge.<ref>O'Donnell, p. 135</ref><ref>Stuart, p. 15</ref> |
A '''beak doctor costume''' was an ankle length overcoat and a bird-like beak mask worn by a [[plague doctor]] to protect him from airborne diseases.<ref name="BodySystems">Pommerville (Body Systems), p. 15</ref><ref>Bauer, p. 145</ref><ref>Abrams, p. 257</ref><ref>Byfield, p. 26</ref> Fourteenth century plague doctors that wore this bird-like mask were referred to as "beak doctors".<ref> Geography Magazine April 1991, p. 19, '' Plague doctors of the 14th century wore disctintive bird-like masks and were known as beak doctors.'' <br /> :*[[Ulrich's Periodicals Directory]], ulrichsweb.com or email ''magazine at geographical.co.uk,'' Content Type : Academic / Scholarly </ref> Straps held the beak in front of the doctor's nose.<ref name="Ellis202"/> The mask had glass openings for the eyes and a curved beak was shaped like a bird. The beak led to the nickname "beak doctors."<ref name="BodySystems"/><ref name="Ellis202"/><ref>Byrne (Encyclopedia), p. 505</ref> The mask had two small nose holes and was a type of [[respirator]]. The mask they wore had a protruded [[beak]] which contained aromatic herbs.<ref> Time-Life Books, pp. 140, 158 </ref><ref> Ellis, p. 202 </ref> The beak held dried flowers (including roses and carnations), herbs (including mint), spices, camphor or a vinegar sponge.<ref>O'Donnell, p. 135</ref><ref>Stuart, p. 15</ref> |
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[[Charles de Lorme]] adopted in 1619 the idea of a full protective garment |
[[Charles de Lorme]] adopted in 1619 the idea of a full protective garment,<ref name="Boeckl15"> Boeckl, p. 15 </ref> This consisted of not only the bird-like mask, but of a long leather or waxed-canvas gown which was from the neck to the angle.<ref name="Boeckl15"/> modeled after a soldier's armour.<ref> Duffin, p. 57 </ref> The over-clothing garment, as well as leggings, gloves, boots, and a hat, were made of waxed leather.<ref name="BodySystems"/><ref>Hirts, p. 66</ref><ref>Reynolds, p. 23</ref> The garment was impregnated with similar fragrant items as the beak mask.<ref>Kenda, p. 154</ref> Doctors believed the herbs would counter the "evil" smells of the plague and prevent them from becoming infected.<ref name="Ellis202">Ellis, p. 202</ref> It was based on the [[miasma theory of disease]].<ref name="BodySystems"/><ref name="Ellis202"/> |
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The beak doctor costume worn by the plague doctors had a wide brimmed leather hood to indicate their profession.<ref name="BodySystems"/><ref>Center for Advanced Study in Theatre Arts, p. 83</ref> They used wooden canes to point out areas needing attention and to examine the patients without touching them.<ref>[http://art-bin.com/art/medhistorypix/omedicalimages19.html Doktor Schnabel von Rom, engraving by Paul Fürst (after J Columbina), Rome 1656.]</ref> The canes were also used to keep people away<ref name="BodySystems"/> and to remove clothing from plague victims without touching them or to take patients' pulses.<ref>Pommerville, p. 9</ref> |
The beak doctor costume worn by the plague doctors had a wide brimmed leather hood to indicate their profession.<ref name="BodySystems"/><ref>Center for Advanced Study in Theatre Arts, p. 83</ref> They used wooden canes to point out areas needing attention and to examine the patients without touching them.<ref>[http://art-bin.com/art/medhistorypix/omedicalimages19.html Doktor Schnabel von Rom, engraving by Paul Fürst (after J Columbina), Rome 1656.]</ref> The canes were also used to keep people away<ref name="BodySystems"/> and to remove clothing from plague victims without touching them or to take patients' pulses.<ref>Pommerville, p. 9</ref> |
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* Byrne, Joseph Patrick, ''Encyclopedia of Pestilence, Pandemics, and Plagues'', ABC-CLIO, 2008, ISBN 0313341028 |
* Byrne, Joseph Patrick, ''Encyclopedia of Pestilence, Pandemics, and Plagues'', ABC-CLIO, 2008, ISBN 0313341028 |
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* Center for Advanced Study in Theatre Arts, ''Western European stages, Volume 14, CASTA, 2002, |
* Center for Advanced Study in Theatre Arts, ''Western European stages, Volume 14, CASTA, 2002, |
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* Duffin, Jacalyn, ''SARS in context: memory, history, policy'', McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, 2006, ISBN 0773531947 |
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* Ellis, Oliver C., ''A History of Fire and Flame 1932 '', Kessinger Publishing, 2004, ISBN 1417975830 |
* Ellis, Oliver C., ''A History of Fire and Flame 1932 '', Kessinger Publishing, 2004, ISBN 1417975830 |
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* Hirst, Leonard Fabian, ''The conquest of plague: a study of the evolution of epidemiology'', Clarendon Press, 1953, |
* Hirst, Leonard Fabian, ''The conquest of plague: a study of the evolution of epidemiology'', Clarendon Press, 1953, |
Revision as of 19:33, 25 June 2011
A beak doctor costume was an ankle length overcoat and a bird-like beak mask worn by a plague doctor to protect him from airborne diseases.[3][4][5][6] Fourteenth century plague doctors that wore this bird-like mask were referred to as "beak doctors".[7] Straps held the beak in front of the doctor's nose.[8] The mask had glass openings for the eyes and a curved beak was shaped like a bird. The beak led to the nickname "beak doctors."[3][8][9] The mask had two small nose holes and was a type of respirator. The mask they wore had a protruded beak which contained aromatic herbs.[10][11] The beak held dried flowers (including roses and carnations), herbs (including mint), spices, camphor or a vinegar sponge.[12][13]
Charles de Lorme adopted in 1619 the idea of a full protective garment,[14] This consisted of not only the bird-like mask, but of a long leather or waxed-canvas gown which was from the neck to the angle.[14] modeled after a soldier's armour.[15] The over-clothing garment, as well as leggings, gloves, boots, and a hat, were made of waxed leather.[3][16][17] The garment was impregnated with similar fragrant items as the beak mask.[18] Doctors believed the herbs would counter the "evil" smells of the plague and prevent them from becoming infected.[8] It was based on the miasma theory of disease.[3][8]
The beak doctor costume worn by the plague doctors had a wide brimmed leather hood to indicate their profession.[3][19] They used wooden canes to point out areas needing attention and to examine the patients without touching them.[20] The canes were also used to keep people away[3] and to remove clothing from plague victims without touching them or to take patients' pulses.[21]
This seventeenth century poem describes the "beak doctor" 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.[22][23]
The Genovese 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.[24] The plague doctors of Nijmegen also wore beaked masks. Their robes, leggings, hats, and gloves were made of morocco leather.[25]
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.[26] The overcoat was sometimes made of "levant morocco".[27] 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.
Culture
The costume is also associated with a commedia dell'arte character called Il Medico della Peste ("the doctor of plague").[28] The character's very popular mask is associated with the early-17th century French doctor Charles de Lorme. [29] He adopted the "beak mask" together with other sanitary precautions while treating plague victims.[30] The Venetian mask was normally white, consisting of a hollow beak and round eye-holes covered with clear glass.[29]
Footnotes
- ^ Traité de la peste recueilli des meilleurs auteurs anciens et modernes (Geneva, 1721)
- ^ Nohl, p. 97
- ^ a b c d e f Pommerville (Body Systems), p. 15
- ^ Bauer, p. 145
- ^ Abrams, p. 257
- ^ Byfield, p. 26
- ^ Geography Magazine April 1991, p. 19, Plague doctors of the 14th century wore disctintive bird-like masks and were known as beak doctors.
:*Ulrich's Periodicals Directory, ulrichsweb.com or email magazine at geographical.co.uk, Content Type : Academic / Scholarly - ^ a b c d Ellis, p. 202
- ^ Byrne (Encyclopedia), p. 505
- ^ Time-Life Books, pp. 140, 158
- ^ Ellis, p. 202
- ^ O'Donnell, p. 135
- ^ Stuart, p. 15
- ^ a b Boeckl, p. 15
- ^ Duffin, p. 57
- ^ Hirts, p. 66
- ^ Reynolds, p. 23
- ^ Kenda, p. 154
- ^ Center for Advanced Study in Theatre Arts, p. 83
- ^ Doktor Schnabel von Rom, engraving by Paul Fürst (after J Columbina), Rome 1656.
- ^ Pommerville, p. 9
- ^ Nohl, pp. 94, 95
- ^ Sandler, p. 42
- ^ Manget, p. 3
- ^ Timbs, p. 360
- ^ The Plague Doctor
- ^ American Medical Association - JAMA.: The Journal of the American Medical Association, Volume 34, p. 639
- ^ Killinger, p. 95
- ^ a b Carnevale
- ^ Christine M. Boeckl, Images of plague and pestilence: iconography and iconology (Truman State University Press, 2000), p. 15.
References
- Abrams, J. J., The Road Not Taken, Simon and Schuster, 2005, ISBN 1416924833
- Bauer, S. Wise, The Story of the World Activity Book Two: The Middle Ages : From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance, Peace Hill Press, 2003, ISBN 0971412944
- Byfield, Ted, Renaissance: God in Man, A.D. 1300 to 1500: But Amid Its Splendors, Night Falls on Medieval Christianity, Christian History Project, 2010, ISBN 0968987389
- Byrne, Joseph Patrick, Encyclopedia of Pestilence, Pandemics, and Plagues, ABC-CLIO, 2008, ISBN 0313341028
- Center for Advanced Study in Theatre Arts, Western European stages, Volume 14, CASTA, 2002,
- Duffin, Jacalyn, SARS in context: memory, history, policy, McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, 2006, ISBN 0773531947
- Ellis, Oliver C., A History of Fire and Flame 1932 , Kessinger Publishing, 2004, ISBN 1417975830
- Hirst, Leonard Fabian, The conquest of plague: a study of the evolution of epidemiology, Clarendon Press, 1953,
- Kenda, Barbara, Aeolian winds and the spirit in Renaissance architecture: Academia Eolia revisited, Taylor & Francis, 2006, ISBN 0415398045
- Killinger, Charles L., Culture and customs of Italy, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005, ISBN 0313324891
- Nohl, Johannes, The Black Death: A Chronicle of the Plague, J. & J. Harper Edition 1969, Library of Congress No. 79-81867
- Manget, Jean-Jacques, Traité de la peste recueilli des meilleurs auteurs anciens et modernes, Geneva, 1721, online as PDF, 28Mb download
- O'Donnell, Terence, History of life insurance in its formative years, American Conservation Company, 1936
- Pommerville, Jeffrey, Alcamo's Fundamentals of Microbiology: Body Systems, Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2009, ISBN 0763762598
- Pommerville, Jeffrey, Alcamo's Fundamentals of Microbiology, Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2010, ISBN 076376258X
- Reynolds, Richard C., On doctor[i]ng: stories, poems, essays, Simon and Schuster, 2001, ISBN 0743201531
- Sandler, Merton, Wine: a scientific exploration, CRC Press, 2003, ISBN 0415247349
- Stuart, David C., Dangerous garden: the quest for plants to change our lives, frances lincoln ltd, 2004, ISBN 0711222657
- Timbs, John, The Mirror of literature, amusement, and instruction, Volume 37, J. Limbird, 1841
- Time-Life Books, What life was like in the age of chivalry: medieval Europe, AD 800-1500, 1997