Masks worn by doctors during the Plague VS Sailor Kissing Nurse, Times Square, August 14, 1945

Masks worn by doctors during the Plague

They believed the disease was airborne and was spread by miasma, which is a noxious form of "bad air." To battle this perceived threat, the long be...

They believed the disease was airborne and was spread by miasma, which is a noxious form of "bad air." To battle this perceived threat, the long beak was packed with such sweet smells as dried flowers, herbs and spices. Also the bird-beak mask provided the doctors with creepy award-winning costumes for any fancy dress party they might be attending. The doctors' attempt at safety backfired in the sense that the bird masks became a symbol of the Black Death.

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Sailor Kissing Nurse, Times Square, August 14, 1945

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