Plague Doctor Mask - First Face Masks In History Invented By Charles De Lorme

The plague doctor were strange doctors that wore bird shaped masks invented by Charles De Lorme during the black death, or Bubonic plague pandemic in the 17th century and were the first face mask designs ever invented, and even the first crude hazmat suit made in history.Show more

Although the 14th and 15th century had many plagues, the first face mask and hazmat suit weren't invented until a couple centuries later.

The full body suit originally invented by Charles De Lorme consisted of a hat, bird shaped mask, glasses or glass eyes, overcoat, breeches and cane.

The hat helped identify them as black death doctors as well as shield against bacteria or viruses, The eye pieces were covered in glass, sometimes tinted red.

The Black Death was thought to be caused by 'Miasma' or 'Bad Air' from rotting or decaying matter which was later replaced by germ theory.

The Black Death is actually caused by the Yersinia Pestisa, a rod shaped bacterium that came in three forms: Pneumonic, Septicemic or Bubonic plague. It killed 70,000 to 100,000 people from 1665 to 1666, or about 15% of London's total population at the time.

The two nose holes in the mask were filled with herbs and perfumes with the thinking that it would filter the bad air. This lead to the death of many plague doctors who contracted the black plague themselves after treating patients.

The long black coat, leggings, gloves and boots were all made of waxed leather to prevent liquids or body fluids from being absorbed into the hazmat suit.

Long canes were used to check patients and their pulses, point out infected areas and remove clothing without coming into contact with the black plague.The canes were also used to ward off patient from touching them or coming too close.