MovieChat Forums > The Sickhouse (2008) Discussion > Creepy Bird Costumes....really

Creepy Bird Costumes....really


I read some of the [humorous] reviews of this movie, and I have to clarify something. Those weren't "creepy bird costumes" that doctors and caregivers donned in the age of The Plague.

The "bird mask" was generally filled with sweet-smelling herbs to prevent the doctors and caregivers from smelling the rotting and dying patients. The other purpose for this mask was to disguise their identity. Why disguise identity? If you were seen to be in contact with plague victims/potential plague victims, you'd be ostracized.

The remaining of the costume helped (what they thought) in preventing doctors/caregivers from contracting the Plague as their clothes were soaked in vinegar while the eye holes of the mask were covered with crystal lenses. The plague doctors wore this in conjunction with a hat, full length waxed linen robe, leather gloves , boots and breaches. They also carried a long wooden staff used to push away victims of the plague and to remove the bed covers from them.

(See "Charles de L'Orme" for more information)

Courage is the mastery of fear, not the absence of fear.

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