The Plague and Pandemic Doctors

A 'Plague Doctor' was a physician who treated victims of the bubonic plague epidemics, hired by cities to remedy infected patients regardless of income, esp. the poor that could not afford to pay. They were around after the Black Plague 1340 +. Pandemic doctors had a mixed reputation, with some citizens seeing their presence as a warning to leave the area. Some doctors were charging patients and their families extra fees for special treatments, that were false cures. In many cases such doctors weren't experienced physicians; instead were second-rate or young doctors starting a career. These doctors were in other professions, as fruit, vegetable, to junk salesman. Plague doctors rarely cured patients; instead they'd record death tolls & number of infected people for demographics. Their costume was dark coat, a bizarre mask that had a glass opening for eyes, a curved beak, like a bird's with straps that held the long protrusion over a doctor's nose. The mask had two small nose holes and was a type of respirator which contained aromatic items. The beak could hold dried flowers [as roses], herbs [lavender to mint], & camphor, or a vinegar sponge. Strange!