According to National Geographic, de Lorme described the outfit as “a coat covered in scented wax, breeches connected to boots, a tucked-in shirt, and a hat and gloves made of goat leather.” The look was created by Charles de Lorme, a plague doctor who played a role in treating many European royals during the 17th century. Complete coverage at CTVNews.ca/Coronavirusĭuring the Middle Ages, an outbreak of the plague devastated Europe, killing around 50 million people.Īt the time, those who tended to plague victims covered themselves head to toe in robes, wore long leather gloves, goggles and a mask with a long bird-like beak that had two holes, one on each side near the nostrils.Coronavirus newsletter sign-up: Get The COVID-19 Brief sent to your inbox.While the costume has been popularized by cosplay, video games and historical depictions of plague times, the reason behind the beaked masks was a misconception about the spread of the historical disease - one that highlights advancements in the understanding of germs and viruses. Howard W.As a growing number of Canadians don masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the ubiquitous image of surgical masks in the era of coronavirus has drawn comparisons to the infamous beaks worn by plague doctors in 17th-century Europe.Ī search for “plague masks” on social media returns hundreds of results showing users dressed up in costume variations of the beaked masks, mocking their usefulness in light of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Joseph Patrick Byrne, Encyclopedia of Pestilence, Pandemics, and Plagues, ABC-Clio, 2008ĭorothy Crawford, Deadly Companions: How Microbes Shaped Our History, Oxford University Press, 2018 ![]() He was more than just the inventor of the plague preventive costume he was a talented physician who treated thousands of people during the reigns of three different French kings. Desiring to improve people's lives, Charles spent a good deal of his time coming up with remedies for such diverse ailments as stomach pain and headaches. He built up his reputation as being a reliable, benevolent, and competent physician who cared about his patients and who found solutions during times of hardship. Philippe de Champaigne (1602–1674) (after) National Galleries of Scotland ![]() Charles's benevolence was praised by Henri IV himself, as the physician was known for refusing special gifts offered to him by patients who came from nobility. His prowess as a physician preceded him and he became the chief physician to three consecutive French kings: Henri IV, Louis XIII, and Louis XIV. His reputation as a good practitioner grew rapidly in the capital and, thanks to his father's connections, Charles became the personal physician to several members of the Medici. Soon after, he moved to Paris to practise medicine under the mentorship of his father. Charles followed in his father's footsteps and, in 1607, he graduated from the University of Montpellier at the age of 23. The outfit also consisted of gloves, boots, and a hat, which was made of waxed leather.Ī Physician Wearing a Plague Preventive Costume in Marseille, 1720īut who was Charles Delorme, apart from the inventor of the plague preventive costume?Ĭharles was the son of Jacques Delorme, a professor at the University of Montpellier who had great connections among the nobility. ![]() He created the 'plague preventive costume', which consisted of a long overclothing garment (Moroccan), which went from the neck all the way down to the ankle, the idea being that the air could not penetrate it. In 1619, the bubonic plague erupted in Paris, and an experienced French physician named Charles Delorme was about to have an idea. However, in the midst of the chaos, a man came up with a new invention, one that would possibly help protect the physicians treating patients who'd contracted the plague. All anyone could do was remove the corpses to prevent the virus from spreading further and killing even more people.įor doctors – or physicians as they were called during the early modern period – this situation was unbearable. A Terrified Man Realising He Has Just Contracted the Plague, Surrounded by a Group of PeopleĮdward Matthew Ward (1816–1879) Wellcome CollectionĪs the death toll continued to rise, no remedy was found against the disease.
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