plague doctor

A medieval doctor hired to care for victims of plague. Functioning under the auspices of a municipal government, he oversaw rich and poor in the company of a custodian, wearing sombre leather overcoat, boots, and gloves, and carrying a stick to examine patients without touching them. A plague doctor also wore a beaked mask containing aromatic items thought to ward off the miasma that carried the disease.

See also

• Wikipedia: Plague (disease)