The First Victim | Plague at the Golden Gate | American Experience | PBS

The Plague Doctor’s Mask – What Was It Really For?

How Effective Was the Plague Doctor's Outfit? #PlagueDoctor #History #Medieval #BlackDeath #BeakedMask The bubonic plague, or Black Death, ravaged Europe in the 14th century, killing millions of people. The disease was transmitted by fleas that infested rats, which were common in urban environments. In an attempt to protect themselves, some doctors wore a distinctive outfit that has become synonymous with the plague: the beaked mask and long coat. While the beaked mask was not an effective defen