A 1656 engraving of Dr. Schnabel ("Beak") of Rome. He is wearing protective clothing which plague doctors in Rome usually wore at the time.

Johann Melchior Füssli's engraving of a plague doctor of Marseille. His nose-case is filled with smoking material to keep off the plague. This engraving was made c. 1721.

The plague doctor's costume was the clothes worn by a plague doctor to protect him from diseases spread through the air. The costume was made up of a coat which went down to the ankles and a mask. The mask looked like a bird's beak. The beak was often filled with things which smelled sweet or strong (often lavender). Along with this, gloves, boots, a hat and something else to go over the jacket was worn.