The Black Death: the Plague that Sowed Terror and Death in Medieval Europe - Part 1.At times, plague doctors were even requested to conduct autopsies, in order to better understand how the plague might be treated. It seems that most plague doctors were occupied with this aspect of their job. Furthermore, plague doctors were often summoned to testify and witness wills of the dead and dying. Plague doctors were also responsible for tallying the number of casualties in logbooks for public record, and documented the last wishes of their patients. In theory, the primary duties of a plague doctor were to treat and cure victims of the plague, and to bury the dead. Plague doctors were public servants hired by villages, towns, or cities when a plague struck. These were European physicians who specialized in treating victims of the plague, the best known example being the Black Death. The plague doctor is arguably one of the most enigmatic figures to have emerged from the Middle Ages. But what does it mean? The Various Roles of Plague Doctors While plague doctors have been plying their trade since the Middle Ages, it was only after this period, during the 17th century, that they acquired their creepy trademark costume. Though the image is iconic the relationship may be a little anachronistic. The plague doctor mask is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Black Death.
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