A Pandemic Revisited

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Pandemics have been around ever since humans entered the hunter gatherer stage and began to engage in trade with other people groups. The World Health Organization describes a pandemic as "an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people." The most deadly pandemic, and the one with the most impact on European society, was the bubonic plague. Also called the Black Death, the plague officially began in the mid-14th century. The plague had already been wreaking havoc in China, India, and the Middle East when a fleet of ships filled with dead and dying crew members sailed into the Sicilian port of Messina. Although the ships were immediately sent on their way, it was too late. The plague had hit Italy and it spread like wildfire through Europe and North Africa via trade routes.

Bubonic plague is caused by the bacterium Yersina Pestis, a fact discovered by French biologist Alexandre Yersin in the 19th century. This bacterium attacks the lymphatic system and causes horrible boils and swelling of lymph nodes. Left untreated, it spreads to the blood or lungs, causing death. Symptoms include fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, and excruciating pain. It is spread through the bite of rats or fleas and also through person-to-person contact.

In the 14th century, though, these facts were not known. The medical professionals of the time treated the symptoms of the disease with bloodletting and boil-lancing. They also believed that foul air spread the disease and advocated the inhaling of sweet-smelling herbs and perfumes and bathing in rose water. The worst of it was that the disease was extremely contagious. A person could go to bed perfectly healthy and be dead by morning. People did everything they could to avoid the sick. Doctors refused to see patients, priests refused to give last rites, and people fled to the countryside. This plague lasted about five years in Europe before it subsided but it returned with a vengeance several times over the next 400 years.

It was during a recurrence of the plague in 17th century France that Dr. Charles de Lorme designed a costume to protect doctors from contracting the disease from sick patients. This gear was called the Medico Della Peste and came to be widely used throughout Europe. Since the plague was thought to be caused by poisoned air, the protective gear was designed to filter out these noxious substances and counteract them with pleasant-smelling ones. It included a face mask which was as functional as it was strange-looking. The mask featured a 6 inch long "beak" which contained sweet-smelling substances such as herbs and spices. Near each nostril was a hole - for breathing and for allowing the aromatic scents to counteract the foul incoming air. In order to slow down the incoming air and to give the pleasant aromas time to work, the beak was slanted downward giving the mask it's distinctive bird-like appearance. The mask had glass inserts for the eye holes and straps to affix it to the head. In addition to the mask, the physician would wear a long coat which would cover him from the back of his head to his ankles. This coat was covered in scented wax to repel the poisonous air. He would wear his breeches attached to his shoes, his shirt tucked in and a hat and gloves made of goat leather. Literally no skin was exposed. He also carried a rod or walking stick in order to examine patients and to maintain distance from other people.

The iconic bird mask is still used today in Italian commedia del'arte, carnival celebrations, and masquerade parties all over the world. It takes on particular significance today as we find ourselves in a new pandemic. Fortunately, our modern masks are much less cumbersome.