Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I cover the history of science and exploration. Plague doctors were government contractors. When the plague struck a European ...

The Plague Doctor’s eerie beak mask was designed to protect against “evil” smells thought to cause disease. But the truth behind this creepy costume will shock you!

In the 17th century, people believed these outfits could purify poisonous air. They were wrong. During the 17th-century European plague, physicians wore beaked masks, leather gloves, and long ...

Related: The science of the 10 plagues The plague doctor getup, and especially the beaked mask, has become one of the most popular costumes in the "Carnevale," or Carnival of Venice in Italy.