Charles de Lorme, the physician who served numerous European royal families in the 17th century, is widely recognized for designing the iconic plague doctor uniform.
The eerie and distinctive attire of the plague doctor, particularly the bird-like mask, is one of the most enduring and unsettling images associated with the history of pandemics. But this macabre getup was far from a fashion statement; it was a practical, albeit misguided, attempt to protect physicians during outbreaks of the bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death. The now-iconic costume is often attributed to Charles de Lorme, a prominent physician in the 17th century who attended to the medical needs of numerous European royals, including King Louis XIII of France. De Lorme described a full-body ensemble intended to shield doctors from the deadly disease. This protective suit consisted of a long coat made of waxed leather, breeches, boots, a tucked shirt, and gloves and a hat crafted from goat leather. Adding to their ominous appearance, plague doctors also carried a rod, used to examine patients without direct contact or to fend off desperate individuals.
The most striking feature of the plague doctor’s garb was undoubtedly the mask. According to de Lorme’s descriptions, these masks included spectacles and a beak-like extension that was “half a foot long, shaped like a beak, filled with perfume.” This beak mask had only small holes near the nostrils for breathing, designed to allow air to pass through the aromatic substances contained within. This design was rooted in the prevailing medical theory of the time: miasma theory.
Venetian Carnival participants dressed in traditional plague doctor costumes, a historical echo of the city’s past epidemics, highlighting the enduring cultural impact of the plague doctor image.
Before the widespread acceptance of germ theory, medical professionals believed that diseases like the plague were spread by miasma – foul-smelling, toxic air. This “bad air” was thought to cause imbalances in the body’s humors, leading to illness. To combat miasma, it was believed that strong, sweet, and pungent fragrances could purify the air and offer protection. Therefore, plague doctors incorporated perfumes and aromatics into their practice, using nosegays, incense, and other fragrant substances to fumigate spaces and, crucially, to fill their distinctive masks.
The elongated beak of the mask served a critical purpose in this miasmatic worldview. It was designed to hold theriac, a complex concoction of over 55 herbs and other ingredients, including viper flesh powder, cinnamon, myrrh, and honey. De Lorme theorized that the beak’s length would provide sufficient time for the air to be purified by the protective herbs within the mask before it reached the doctor’s respiratory system. In essence, the bird mask was not a bizarre affectation but a wearable air filter, filled with what were considered potent protective aromatics against disease-carrying miasma.
While plague doctors across Europe adopted variations of this protective attire, the image became particularly ingrained in Italian culture. The plague doctor mask and costume became a recognizable character in the Italian commedia dell’arte and a staple of Carnival celebrations, especially in Venice. Even today, the plague doctor costume remains a popular choice for costume parties and historical reenactments, a testament to the enduring, if somewhat unsettling, legacy of these historical figures and their attempts to confront a terrifying and misunderstood disease.
