Answer
The masks were made of stiffened cloth and painted to look like bird beaks. One reason for this was that some people thought birds spread the plague, so wearing a bird mask was a sort of reverse charm against it, and another reason was to keep your face and nose as far from the "bad air" as possible to avoid contracting the disease.
rosemary and posies, and thyme
They thought their clothing (and particularly their bird masks) would keep them from contracting the Plague. The whole costume was designed, or so they believed to ward off the plague. The beak was stuffed with herbs to keep the smell (and they thought the plague) at bay. The long waxed cloak and hat again to ward off the deathly plague and the staff to stop them having to touch the victims.
I think that they used herbs. I think that they used herbs.
plague doctors wore them to prevent themselves from catching the disease. the costume was made up of a waxed leather coat with herbs n the beak over his nose and mouth. herbs were believed to ward away infection
They used protective suits made of leather with a mask with a long nose full of flowers, coz they belived the plague was caused by bad smells.
the doctors often used herbs
Yes there were masks, but they were not worn for the reason we wear them. They were worn to protect the wearer from the plague. It was thought that if you wore one with a long beak that held herbs that it would protect from getting the plague. Most commonly the doctors wore them.
they wore a white coat and they had their normal clothes underneath A plague doctor wore a long black cloak which was waxed to "trap" the plague. They also wore a waxed hat and carried a cane which they used to remove the covers from victims and move the patents. Of course they wore the famous beaked mask. The beak was stuffed with sweet smelling herbs and the eye had crystal glass inserts. The whole design of the costume was to minimise skin exposure to the plague and therefore they believed protect themselves.
Mainly it was because when they were handing out potions, medicines, if the patient had a medical reaction to the medicine they could have a chance of catching an illness or at the worst, death. They wore masks to hide identity, so they werent a known man in the area, also so they didnt lose business. Another theory is that they wore the masks because it was widespread that birds spread the plague and if they wore it, this would direct the plague to the mask, away from the victim. Best answer I have thanks. For some time, including around the time of the Black Plague, the long "beaks" of the bird masks would be stuffed with spices and incense, which was thought to fulfil two purposes - firstly and most importantly, it would cover the stench of death and disease, and some wearers thought that by wearing it they were warding off the diseases.
Medieval medicine was truly bad. The church didn't allow any medical science to be developed and what there was could be dangerous. The night air was seen as dangerous so people were told not to open windows or to go out if they could avoid it. The blood was considered to have "humors" and if someone got sick they would often bleed them to get rid of the "humors." Substances like mercury were used, urine, and different herbs. Leeches were prescribed often and used. It was thought that buring certain herbs could keep away the sickness. When the plague hit doctors treating plague victims wore a cone type of mask on their nose that burned herbs in the narrow end of the cone. They thought this would protect them. People often died of injury because it became infected and there was no knowledge about bacteria or germs. It was better to stay home sick than to go to a hospital and die.
A mask made specifically to ward against bodily smells are sometimes used by doctors, coroners and morticians. If a mask is not present then a salve placed under the nose, usually a menthol or orange scented salve will be used.
During Black Death people used variety of methods. They used clothes mostly.
During the bubonic plague, judges visiting prisons used to wear primitive gasmasks, stuffed with herbs or spices thought to ward off the plague - since it looked like a beak... they were referred to as "going before the beak" as they were never seen without it.