The mask had two small nose holes and was a type of respirator which contained aromatic items. The typical mask had glass openings for the eyes and a curved beak shaped like a bird's beak with straps that held the beak in front of the doctor's nose. The costume consists of a leather hat, mask with glass eyes and a beak, stick to remove clothes of a plague victim, gloves, waxed linen robe, and boots. Description Plague doctor outfit from Germany (17th century) However, the costume was mostly worn by late Renaissance and early modern physicians studying and treating plague patients. It is often seen as a symbol of death and disease. The clothing worn by plague doctors was intended to protect them from airborne diseases during outbreaks of bubonic plague in Europe.

His nose-case is filled with herbal material to keep off the plague. 1656, of a plague doctor of Marseilles (introduced as 'Dr Beak of Rome'). Clothing worn by plague doctors that was intended to protect them from infection Paul Fürst, engraving, c.