#THE PLAGUE DOCTOR BANDCAMP FULL#

The full-length coat was made of waxen leather, which was designed to be impermeable. So the obvious question is: Why?īasically, this was humanity’s first attempt at the hazmat suit.

These costumes may not have existed at the same time as the Black Death, but they did exist eventually. To discover more devastating details about the Black Death, check out 10 Factors That Made The Black Death So Deadly. However, that theory has been called into question in more recent years. The most likely explanation as to why these costumes became associated with the Black Death is the suspicion that bubonic plague was the cause.

Even then, it was not widely used until several decades later during the plague of 1656.

Plague doctors with their famous attire did not appear until 1619. Since then, scientists have been trying to identify the actual disease, and bubonic plague has long been considered the most likely culprit. The “Black Death” is the name given to the biggest pandemic in recorded history, which claimed the lives of up to 200 million people from 1346 to 1353. In modern-day, it can be seen throughout Italy during the famous Carnivale celebration as well as having become a well-known character in theatre from the 17th century on.Although plague doctors were clearly and repeatedly associated with the Black Death, a grand total of zero doctors wore beak masks during that period. This new illustration of the classic plague doctor is one that influenced much of media today, and it made an impact on the reputation of plague doctors for centuries after. In addition to this accusation, the drawing was exaggerated to include claw-like gloves as well as a stick the doctor carried, which had a bat-winged hourglass sitting atop of it. In this version, the doctor was referred to as 'Doctor Schnabel von Rom.' When translated, this means 'Doctor Beaky from Rome.' This engraving was a near duplicate of Altzenbach's but rather than speaking highly of the outfit and the doctor, the engraving insinuated that the doctor, 'does nothing but terrify people and take money from the dead and dying,' according to LiveScience. During the same year that the plague doctor's outfit was first illustrated with a detailed description, another engraver by the name of Paulus Fürst created a satirical version of the outfit. There was some speculation, however, from those who believed that the outfit was far more of a show than a result of medical science. Related: You Can Visit Framlingham Castle, Where 'Bloody Mary' Was Crowned Queen Before modern medicine, it was believed that these aromatics in the front of the mask would prevent the wearer from breathing in what was referred to as 'pestilential miasma,' otherwise known as disease-laden air. While quite startling upon the first appearance, this extra room in the front of the mask served as a chamber for aromatics. The mask itself was quite tight-fitting and the 'beak' measured to roughly six inches long. Why a bird-like beak? What was the purpose of covering the doctor's entire face? According to literary accounts, the beak did actually serve a purpose.

#THE PLAGUE DOCTOR BANDCAMP FULL#

While most of the outfit makes sense with its full coverings and thick material, it's the mask that many have questioned. Along with the illustration, it was detailed how, exactly, each part was intended to protect the wearer from illness. Gerhart Altzenbach, who was a German engraver during the mid-1600s, was responsible for creating the first illustration of the plague doctor's uniform.

The plague doctor bandcamp