The terrifying masks of the Black Death

Few masks attract as much attention as those used during the Black Death epidemics, which mixes the sinister and disturbing, waking us up, perhaps, an atavistic fear of death itself and, about everything, to the disease.Terror in that shadow of the past called Plague, the most devastating pandemic of humanity, which had its origin in Asia and that later spread to Europe, leading the lives of millions and millions of people...

This mask was part of the classic attire of the so-called "Il dottore della Peste" or the doctor of the Plague.A dress that, later, has become part of the traditional attire of costumes at the famous Carnival of Venice, where this sinister and elongated element in the shape of a bird's beak is almost indispensable.

The terrifying masks of the Black Death

Let's delve a little more in its origins.Let's dress with this outfit and uncover the veils of time, to return to au na of the darkest times of humanity, where the Black Death walked with giant feet...

The doctors of the Black Death

The Plague Black appeared in Asia and Europe on several occasions.The first and most virulent was extended in the fourteenth century, ravaging an entire continent, which was plunged into a serious humanitarian and economic crisis.The disease itself, as you know, was something terrible.It was characterized by the appearance of some bubos (from there bubonic plague ) where the lymph nodes present in the neck, armpits and English, were inflamed severely, acquiring a blackish tone.It suffered serious hemorrhages, fevers and a death rarely avoidable.

Doctors at this time were forced to come up with special clothing to avoid contagion, but it wasn't until the second epidemic-happened between 1575 and 1577-when they began to use more frequently this type of masks.In special in Venice, where it had its origin.This time the epidemic did not come by surprise and the organization was something better.

Venetian doctors were much appreciated at the time and put means to control the situation, from there, for example, to enable two islands as hospitals: Lazaretto Vechio and Lazaretto Nuovo .Small destinations where they took the sick and those suspected of suffering from the Plague, trying to keep the capital safe, although the result and human losses, despite the effort, were daunting.

I also enable the so-called "magistrato della sanita", in charge of ensuring the health of citizens and of establishing what kind of protection doctors should bring to care for their patients.At that time it was still believed that the disease is transmitted by air and that pen etraba by the pores of the skin, so the following protections were established for "il dottore della Peste":

• Hat wide-brimmed.
• Glasses .
• Leather gloves .
• Great coat of waxed leather until feet.
• A rod to examine the patient without touching it, although it also served as a tool for repentance of infected people, since it was thought that the Plague was actually a punishment from God.
• A mask shaped like a beak.

Can you imagine the impact of poor people? Sick when you receive a visit from your doctor?

The function of the Black Death masks

The mask of the doctors of the Plague was always elongated, with a very similar peak before that of the birds.The length was always the same, just to keep a safe distance from the patient and not breathe his "poisoned breath".

Inside this peak also introduced different aromatic elements , such as myrrh, laudanum, camphor, gray amber, mint leaves, estoraque, rose petals and cloves...Elements that, according to the doctors, they could alleviate the introduction of the disease in the airways.Another aspect by which these masks were shaped like a bird's beak, was because it was thought that the birds were immune to the disease, hence they wanted to symbolize them.

However, the truth is that there were many doctors who ended up becoming infected.The most deadly epidemic in history had its origin precisely in zoonosis, a disease that passed from animals to humans. The responsible bacterium was yersinia pestis, which affected black rats and other rodents.Their parasites, such as fleas, were the ones who transmitted the disease to people with their bites.The basic cause was therefore the lack of hygiene and health at a time when they still associated the disease with a divine punishment.

The memory of those masks dressed by the doctors of the Plague has remained forever in our historical legacy and cultural, having I have special roots in Venice .Although this protection also circulated throughout Europe, being a little more refined and developed in 1619 by Charles de L'Ome in France, its effectiveness as protection was very little.

Even so, its ineffectiveness does not at all undermine its impact, its scenic strength. A fantastic element as a costume for Hallowen .Would you like to dress perhaps like the famous doctors of the Plague?

Image: Fernando.