The Black Death

Alternative name for the plague, on account of the fact that it decimated the population. Plague doctors wore protective clothing, though this afforded precious little defence against the disease. The outfit consisted of a long coat covering the entire body, a broad-brimmed hat and a mask equipped with an elongated ibis-like bill to protect the face. Filled with antiseptic herbs, the bill did to some extent form an effective barrier against the plague.