![]() 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. The dance reminded people of how fragile their lives were and how vain the glories of earthly life.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. It consists of an allegory of Death leading a a group of dancing figures to the grave (usually an emperor, king, pope, monk, peasant, child, all as skeletons). One of the most known works of art showcasing this concept of inevitability of death is La Danse Macabre or the Dance of Death. ![]() Since the Black Death, the Plague Doctor Costume is associated with death, as a sign that plague is near. Because it had it struck so d estructively (between 30% to 60% of Europe's population died during the pandemic) and affected everyone, from kings to poor, from old to child, it remained ingrained in our culture as a memento mori. Among famous plague doctor who gave medical advice to be used against the plague were Nostradamus and Paracelsus. The largest plague epidemic was the Black Death i n Europe, in the 14th century. Plague doctors would also carry a cane to examine patients without the need to make direct contact with them.Īt the time doctors thought that the herbs would chase away the miasma, aka the "evil" smells of the plague, and thus protect them from the disease. The beak could contain dried flowers (roses), herbs (mint), spices (cloves, camphor). It was a sort of respirator, with nose holes designed for breathing. The mask had round eye-holes, covered with clear glass and a bird shaped like beak, and was attached to the face with straps. The suit consisted from a bird-like mask with spectacles, and a long leather or waxed-canvas gown, which covered the doctor from neck to ankle. The suit, as well as the gloves, leggings, boots and the hat were impregnated with fragrance extracted from spices and herbs, similar to the one used for the beak mask. Some plague doctors wore a special costume, invented by Charles de Lorme in 17th century, the physician of three French kings: Henri IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV (Le Roi Soleil). A plague doctor was a medical physician hired by city halls to treat inhabitants affected by the disease during 17th-19th centuries.
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