Her appearance is reminiscent of
that of a European plague doctor, who wore a leather face mask with glass eye openings
and an elongated beak-shaped nose which was filled with herbs, straw, and other
aromatic items, which not only filtered the stench of the putrid air, but was a
the time believed to also shield him from contracting the highly contagious
disease. These medieval physicians
likewise carried a stick, used to examine patients without the need to make
direct contact with them.
|