History Of The Plague Doctor's Bird Beak Mask, Front Line Against The Black Death Plague

Illustration (Wikimedia Commons)

"In Rome the doctors are present,

When the treated patients called,

In places of appalling plague,

Their hats and cloaks belong to the latest fashions,

Made of oilcloth, dark patterned,

Their hats are designed with glasses,

With the hope of warding off the plague,

From the dirty air that might be dangerous. "

Dr. Nathaniel Hodges

JAKARTA - Those are the contents of the popular poetry by Dr. Nathaniel Hodges in the 17th century. Through this poem, he described the unusual costumes worn by "plague doctors", doctors who have the task of treating patients with bubonic plague or black death in Europe.

The costume used by Plague Doctor at that time was indeed interesting. If usually doctors are synonymous with white costumes, especially when the black death attacked Europe, doctors actually wore the dominant black costume. Not only clothes, masks with long bird beaks or known as plague masks or long beaked masks are also things that attract attention.

The mask had become a marker for doctors to treat bubonic plague patients. Because it is so iconic, the costume designed by French doctor Charls De Lorme (1584-1678) even became a symbol of those who work as health professionals.

Regarding masks or masks that resemble a bird's beak, John Henderson in a book entitled Florence Under Siege: Surviving Plague in an Early Modern City (2019), reveals the reason. According to Henderson, the beak on the mask serves as a container for placing various herbal spices, such as mint, rose essence, and others. All spices are important to fight the stench of black death victims. In addition, the beak mask also functions as a filter for air contaminated with the plague.

Henderson also argues, “... this costume reflects a modern view of protection against the plague. "Leather robes covered with wax, lenses that cover the eyes, gloves made of leather, and face shields, all of which are useful for inhibiting the absorption of infected and foul-smelling air," he wrote.

The costume is complete with equipment in the form of a stick that doctors use to interact with patients known for the plague. The use of the stick is getting clearer, namely so that the doctor does not need to make direct contact with the patient.

All the equipment used by doctors at that time was very important as personal protection, considering that at that time the main cause of the spread of the plague was not known. Doctors at that time drew a temporary conclusion that the plague originated from a swamp poison called miasma.

Plague doctor mask (Wikimedia Commons)

Prevent transmission

Mary Dobson, in a book entitled Murderous Contagion: A Human History of Disease (2014) confirmed the confusion. “Disease transmission was not known at that time. Gloves and long wax-coated masks may have helped protect the wearer from tick bites, "Dobson wrote.

"In Genoa, in 1657, the Christian leader, Antero Maria da San Bonaventura, noticed that protective clothing was a good way to avoid getting bitten," he continued.

In another sense, the costume was made to protect the plague doctor who courageously decided to stay in the city. Apart from using costumes, efforts to prevent transmission are also carried out by isolating the plague doctors. Those at the forefront at that time had to be willing to live alone and be kept away from the population in order to avoid spreading disease to other residents.

The house where the plague doctor lives is usually marked with a name sign which contains the Italian sentence, "Medico Della Sanita" which means medical doctor.

“Here you can only walk among corpses. Here you only feel the horror of death. The black death plague is a replica of hell. While many professionally trained doctors do their best to avoid these infections, "Dobson wrote.

Illustration (Wikimedia Commons)

Similar to the angel of death

One hand, the presence of a plague doctor is considered very important. They were the saviors who stood at the forefront of holding back the plague of the black death that at that time consumed more than 60 percent of Europe's population. However, on the other hand, the plague doctor is also often associated with the angel of death. Their task in the end is not only to treat patients, but also to record and bury the patients who failed to survive the black death.

On that basis, plague doctors have complete freedom in conducting experiments outside of medical science. The plague doctors at that time were forced to perform surgery without sufficient scientific basis. In fact, it is said, at that time many people died not because of the plague, but as a result of the plague doctor's malpractice with unsuccessful experiments.

Over time, the plague doctor costume in black became a symbol of terror and death. To the extent that, this type of mask has been associated with certain celebrations, traditions and religious ceremonies to this day.

Swedish rock band Ghost also promotes plague doctor in the video clip Dance Macabre, which in French means "Dance of Death". In the video clip, they show a group of women wearing plague doctor costumes to a party.

Dance Macabre itself is a song that tells about people's fear of black death. This fear gives rise to two desires in man. The first is religious passion in which black death reminds people of penance.

Others, black death actually raises the desire to have fun while possible. That's why the term dance of death emerged. This song is part of their fourth album, "Prequelle" (2018) which generally raises the dark plague of black death.

These various deviations in meaning make the main function of the mask, which previously was to avoid plague, now has a function as a manifestation of superstition and also fear that can make anyone who sees it despair.

In addition to what Ghost appears, one example of a change in the meaning of a mask can be seen in Dan Brown's novel Inferno (2013). In this mystery thriller genre novel, the long beaked mask is used as an object capable of creating terror and fear for the main character of the story, Robert Langdon.