Line #16 Main/PlagueDoctor


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10	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/doctor_schnabel.jpg]]
11	[[caption-width-right:350:The mask of a bird, for a place where no birds sing.]]
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16	->''"As may be seen on picture here,\
17	In Rome the doctors do appear,\
18	When to their patients they are called,\
19	In places by the plague appalled,\
20	Their hats and cloaks, of fashion new,\
21	Are made of oilcloth, dark of hue,\
22	Their caps with glasses are designed,\
23	Their bills with antidotes all lined,\
24	That foulsome air may do no harm,\
25	Nor cause the doctor man alarm,\
26	The staff in hand must serve to show\
27	Their noble trade where'er they go."''
28	-->-- 17th century poem
29
30	An ankle length overcoat, boots, thick gloves, a brim hat and, most importantly, a mask [[CreepyCrows reminiscent of a raven's face]], complete with a beak. And now for the story behind it.
31
32	A plague doctor is a physician specializing on tending to those who suffered from the bubonic plague. Interestingly, the beak mask itself predates the full head-to-toe protective garment, invented in the fourteenth century. The explanation behind the beak mask is simple: according to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miasma_theory miasma theory of infection]], diseases essentially transfer via the poisonous stench, and the doctors protected themselves from inhaling it by placing various herbs, flowers and other aromatic substances inside the beak. We now [[ScienceMarchesOn know that the miasma theory is false]], but [[RightForTheWrongReasons the full-body leather costume did a good job protecting doctors from exposure to infection, and the mask blocked airborne infections]] (especially if the plants contained phytoncides), thus the plague doctor's outfit is essentially a grandfather to our modern mask-and-labcoat medical uniforms; even more so to {{hazmat suit}}s.
33
34	The costume itself was associated with death (where there's plague, commonly known as the black death, there's the beak doctors), which has become deeply ingrained in popular culture. Thus, a plague doctor's outfit is a typical go-to [[RuleOfScary creepy]] costume, the resemblance to both TheGrimReaper and CreepyCrows doing this effect no harm at all. It is particularly used when the setting has TheBlackDeath or [[ThePlague its equivalent]] featured. Another common interpretation of this trope is to make the Plague Doctor ''[[{{Plaguemaster}} spread]]'' [[DeadlyDoctor plague]] instead of treating it.[[note]]There's probably some TruthInTelevision to this: the lax hygiene standards of the period meant that the coats they wore were probably washed infrequently at best (and most certainly weren't sterilized to modern standards), and thus some would literally carry the plague, or any other nasty and opportunistic hitchhiker, with them wherever they went. Say, anthrax. Or smallpox. Or measles. Or typhoid. Or salmonella. Or 'flu. Or a complex blend of ''whatever else'' mixed in with the ''Yersinia pestis'' that'll keep you up at 03:00.[[/note]] The plague doctor's costume is also very often associated with the Middle Ages, [[AnachronismStew despite they only starting to get used in the 17th century]], quite long after what is considered to be the end of the medieval period — likely because it was in the 12th century that the most famous plague pandemic happened.
35
36	As the costume is particularly associated with UsefulNotes/{{Venice}} (due in part to being a popular ''Carnevale'' costume), these guys will often show up in a CityOfCanals. It's also noteworthy that, due to its creepy appearance, the Plague Doctor's (in)famous bird costume is often a target for the NightmareFetishist.
37
38	For a modern equivalent see GasMaskLongcoat. CoatHatMask is a broader trope.
39	----
40	!!Examples:
41	[[foldercontrol]]
42
43	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
44	* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': One member of Inquisitor Mozgus' QuirkyMinibossSquad wears such a suit. He is a torturer rather than a doctor -- he has to wear a suit due to a serious allergic reaction to sunlight.
45	* ''Manga/ChainsawMan'': The Violence Fiend has a pointy, beak-like mask and black suit, though ironically the mask is meant to poison him rather then protect him from sickness.
46	* ''Manga/FireForce'': Dr. Giovanni. Plague Masked, Steampunk engineer, and Plague-Doctor-Captain of Special Fire Force Company 3. The Fire Force seeks to solve the plague of spontaneous human combustion.
47	* ''Anime/GAROTheAnimation'': There's a [[MonsterOfTheWeek Horror]] spawned from a doctor which has the whole plague doctor getup.
48	* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': Several members of the Shie Hassaikai, including their mysophobic leader, Overhaul, wear masks like that of a plague doctor. Overhaul's Quirk, in addition to the ability to kill his targets with a single touch, allows him to heal the physical and mental diseases entirely, with the drawback of a moment of intense pain.
49	* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'': Sachiel's face bears a strong resemblance to the ''carnevale'' mask. In the ''Rebuild'' series, it has become a trademark of almost all the Angels.
50	* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'': In the manga reboot ''Restoration'', Kenshin meets and befriends a doctor who wears this mask. However, the real reason for the mask is because the doctor is really a woman; she knew that many of the close-minded citizens would not believe in or listen to a female doctor. At the end of their adventure, Kenshin encourages her to reveal her face to the town. She is extremely beautiful, and soon all the guys are scrambling to be ''treated'' by her.
51	* ''Manga/SkullFaceBooksellerHondaSan'': Pestmask is depicted as wearing this mask and a witch hat.
52	[[/folder]]
53
54	[[folder:Comic Books]]
55	* [[PolishMedia Polish graphic novel]] "Żyjesz?" ("Alive?"), set on the island of Poveglia during plague days has group of erry plague doctors as the antagonist trying to capture a sick girl and a boy. [[RuleOfScary We never see them without their mask, have strongly played nightmarish presence]] and are usually seen preforming sinister looking or down right sadistic things (such as [[DepravedDentist pulling teeth from screaming, insane patients]] ) however since the entire story is silent and from the point of view of a sick girl trying to escape from the island and we only get glimpses of what the doctors are doing, [[NotEvilJustMisunderstood things might be deceiving]].
56	* Batman enemy Merrymaker dresses as a plague doctor.
57	* Doctor Fell from ''ComicBook/CastleWaiting'' is a plague doctor who has been driven mad by his experiences.
58	* ''Death Head'' initially seems to be a slasher story about an enigmatic plague doctor who is going around murdering random people, but then it's revealed that he's a member of a secret society of plague doctors who are dedicated to wiping out those afflicted by a slow-acting zombie plague. The doctors themselves are infected by the virus, but their magic-enhanced masks keep them alive while they work to quarantine and try to find a cure for the sickness.
59	* The Russian ''ComicBook/MajorGrom'' comic book series features a recurring SerialKiller character who wears a plague doctor mask.
60	** The series also spawned a SpinOff comic, in which said character -- now [[ReformedButNotTamed somewhat reformed]] -- mentors a young, budding hero, who [[LegacyCharacter takes up the mantle]]. Said hero also sports the bird-like mask, though it's redesigned to feature protective padding, telescoping lenses, and a voice changer.
61	* ''ComicBook/Marvel1602'': In ''ComicBook/SpiderMan 1602'', Baron Octavius (who is dying of the Black Death, and willing to go to any means to cure it) makes his first appearance flanked by plague doctors.
62	[[/folder]]
63
64	[[folder:Fanfiction]]
65	* ''[[https://www.deviantart.com/fireflamerx9z/gallery/81759797/the-masked-crossover-singer The Masked Crossover Singer]]'': One of the costumes in the second season is a plague doctor that, judging by the description of them given, fits into all the standard trappings of one-white mask, dark clothes and a cane that they sometimes use during performances. They ultimately make it to the finals and are unmasked as [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/AHatInTime Mustache Girl]]]].
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Film]]
69	* ''Film/BeautyAndTheBeast2017'': A Plague Doctor's mask in Belle's childhood home indicates her mother died of the plague. A flashback shows a doctor [[DarkIsNotEvil tried]] to treat Belle's mother but saw it was too late for her, stating Belle and Maurice had to evacuate before they caught it.
70	* ''Film/BlackDeath'': Appears anachronistically. Plague doctors didn't start wearing these outfits until the [=17th=] century, whereas the movie is specifically set in 1348.
71	* ''Film/CharlesIIThePowerAndThePassion'': The king briefly visits a London devastated by the Great Plague. A number of these doctors can be seen in the background, disposing of the bodies.
72	* ''Film/EyesWideShut'': One apparently influential member of the masked orgy is dressed as a plague doctor.
73	* ''Literature/Inferno2013'': Robert Langdon is haunted by nightmares of an apocalyptic plague, which includes this trope.
74	* ''Film/MajorGromPlagueDoctor'', an adaptation of the Russian comic book series, revolves around the titular [[CowboyCop Police Major Grom]] matching wits with a vigilante SerialKiller who calls himself the Plague Doctor, wears a modernized plague doctor costume, and vows to cleanse society of the "sickness" of criminal scum -- by [[KillItWithFire burning them alive]].
75	* ''Film/{{Prometheus}}''. The biosuit helmets used by the Engineers have this appearance. As they're handling a deadly alien pathogen, it's likely for RuleOfSymbolism.
76	* ''Film/Restoration1995'': Creator/RobertDowneyJr's character is a doctor during the English Restoration. When the plague hits, he wears a plague doctor uniform to minister to the sick.
77	* ''Film/SolomonKane'': While on TheHerosJourney, Solomon Kane passes two plague doctors, in very accurate costumes, who are overseeing the disposal of bodies of Black Plague victims. They even eerily turns their heads in unison as they watch him pass by.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Literature]]
81	* ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfPinocchio'': The fact that the sick protagonist is treated by an Owl and a Crow is interpreted by some as an allusion to the trope.
82	* ''Literature/DeptfordMice'': In the prequel book ''The Alchemist's Cat'', a character uses the outfit as a disguise.
83	* ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'':
84	** ''Literature/NewSeriesAdventures'': In ''Plague City'' the Doctor, Bill and Nardole meet a female plague doctor in 17th century Edinburgh, who takes advantage of the mask to avoid the prejudices of the era. There is also the Night Doctor, a mysterious figure in a plague doctor outfit who visits those who are doomed to die. [[spoiler: It turns out to be Anabelle's outfit animated by an alien intelligence]].
85	** In the short story "The Triple Knife" from ''The Legends of Ashildr'' (later the title story to a collection of Jenny Colgan's ''Doctor Who'' short stories), London during the Black Death is visited by three alien Scientists who resemble leathery bird-men. Ashildr first thinks they're trying to cure the plague, but it turns out they just see the infected as useful lab animals. She's later astonished to find that the idea they were doctors has resulted in genuine plague doctors copying the look.
86	* ''Literature/Inferno2013'': The origins of the plague doctor are discussed, and [[EvilutionaryBiologist Bertrand Zobrist]] wears the iconic mask in his video message, and in the alteration he makes to the ''Map of Hell''.
87	* ''Literature/TheSevenDeathsOfEvelynHardcastle'': The protagonist's mysterious patron appears dressed in the costume of a plague doctor. As this is set on the day of a fancy dress party, several guests end up wearing such a costume during the evening festivities.
88	%%* ''Literature/TheThiefLord'': Scipio dresses like this once.
89	[[/folder]]
90
91	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
92	* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E6TheWomanWhoLived The Woman Who Lived]]", the Doctor finds a medieval plague mask in Me's library, one of the items collected over her immortal life. A DeletedScene has Me mourning the deaths of her children from the plague. She abandons her home and encounters a man masked in this fashion, and gives him advice on how to fight the Black Death. After she's left, the doctor does a DramaticUnmask to reveal he's ''The'' Doctor.
93	* ''Series/FatherBrown'': In "[[Recap/FatherBrownS5E10 The Alchemist's Secret]]", the eponymous alchemist is dressed this way in the flashback that open the episode. The main suspect later hallucinates a vision of the alchemist who -- when he removes his cowl and mask -- turns out to be himself. It is learning of the alchemist's garb that allows Father to deduce that secret is actually [[spoiler:a weaponized version of TheBlackDeath.]]
94	* ''Series/TheHauntingOfBlyManor'': There's a plague doctor visible in the background (or sometimes extreme foreground) of several scenes. It's revealed that he's the ghost of one of the staff members from when the titular manor was used to house plague victims.
95	* ''Series/TheLateShowWithStephenColbert'': After Donald Trump retweeted a parody account that replaced words in his sentences with the word "shark", Stephen declared the world had entered the dumbest time in recorded history, dethroning the period "when we thought a spooky bird mask could protect you from the Black Plague." Cue a plague doctor dancing triumphantly to party music.
96	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': "[[Recap/SupernaturalS13E05AdvancedThanatology Advanced Thanatology]]" involves a MadDoctor from the 1960s who wore such a mask while lobotomizing his patients. After his death he returns in present day as a VengefulGhost whose spirit is anchored by his collection of plague masks.
97	[[/folder]]
98
99	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
100	* ''The Villain'' persona of Wrestling/MartyScurll features him wearing a plague doctor's mask and umbrella as part of his ring attire.
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
104	* ''TabletopGame/BandOfBlades'': The undead "Crows" that serve the villain Fleshblighter all wear plague doctor masks. Two of her unique named horrors -- Lugos and the Doctor -- keep the same theme.
105	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsOfDrakkenheim:'' Sebastian Crowe's Guide to Drakkenheim describes the outfit as a popular one for the Apothecary class, and it's used as the accompanying artwork for the Pathogenist, an Apothecary subclass that specialises in [[{{Plaguemaster}} curing and spreading diseases]].
106	* ''TabletopGame/GrimHollow'': The outbreak of the Weeping Pox has led to this iconic outfit becoming popular amongst healers who struggle to find a cure for the plague. Also, one of the subclasses unique to the setting is literally ''called'' "The Plague Doctor", and is a wizard who practices a mixture of medicine, alchemy and magic to both [[{{Plaguemaster}} cure diseases and to afflict their enemies with them]].
107	* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'':
108	** A module features the "Queen's Physicians", who dress like this. [[spoiler:They're actually ''causing'' the plague. On the Queen's command, no less!]]
109	** There is a Plague Mask "wondrous item" that can be crafted be players, and allows the wearer to cast ''Remove Disease'' once per day on a single creature touched.
110	** One of the weaker varieties of {{Psychopomp}}s that guide souls to the Boneyard appear as ravens wearing masks like a plague doctor's.
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Theatre]]
114	* ''Theatre/MachineElements zwei: Akai Honoo'': The mysterious attackers have this look, though they're really clouds of nanomachines. When people rip off their masks, there isn't a face underneath, just as mass of what looks like wriggling bugs. [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes Tsubasa, who hates bugs]], isn't happy when the team is ordered to catch the attackers.
115	[[/folder]]
116
117	[[folder:Toys]]
118	* ''Toys/{{Squishables}}'' has the "Plague Doctor" line of characters. Originally planned for a Halloween release, it was released at a different point that coincided with the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. The main character of the series is a black cloaked vulture-like bird wearing a white plague doctor mask and hat, along with holding a lantern. Eventually, a white-clad Plague ''Nurse'' was released in the series as well, holding her lantern in the opposite hand so the two of them can hold hands. The characters also have a [[https://www.instagram.com/mysteriousdrplague/ blog.]]
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Video Games]]
122	* ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'': A plague doctor is alluded at one point when Raymond mentions that a nearby town was being overrun by zombies led by someone wearing a bird-mask. In the ConceptArtGallery, the figure is shown to be the [[Website/SCPFoundation Plague Doctor]].
123	* ''VisualNovel/TheArcana'': Julian, Valdemar, and [[spoiler: the Apprentice]] all worked as plague doctors. Julian's first appearance has him wearing the iconic mask.
124	* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' and ''[[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood Brotherhood]]'' have NPC doctors in this costume. One of the multiplayer characters is a doctor who also happens to be a JackTheRipoff.
125	* ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'': Eileen the Crow and the Crowfeather set you can get via the Crow Hunter Badge has this look. The Beak Mask portion of the set, according to description, even has herbs stuffed in it to protect against the stench of blood and beasts.
126	* ''VisualNovel/CodeRealize'': Twilight foot soldiers wear a black uniform with a raven's head mask, rather appropriate for an intelligence organization run by [[spoiler: an alchemically-created ArtificialHuman with an agenda related to chemical weapons and the Philosopher's Stone.]]
127	* ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeon'': The Plague Doctor class. She ([[ViewerGenderConfusion despite common assumption]]) has some medical skill, but in combat is more often found lobbing plague and acid weapons about, and is implied to be in the party mostly {{for science}}; she wants to see what effects her concoctions have on the various monstrosities of the eponymous dungeons. Her backstory comic implies that she was thrown out of her university after experimenting on the corpse of her own professor, who died to an unspecified disease.
128	* ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsIII'': It's hard to see and not visible in the inventory, but the Sage's Big Hat item has a mask that's clearly inspired by this under its gigantic brim -- although given that the Crystal Sages are focused on magic damage rather than poison or the like, it's not entirely clear why.
129	* ''VideoGame/DeepRockGalactic'' has a Beaked Plague Mask cosmetic item, introduced appropriately enough during the "Plaguefall" update, in which a comet is showering Hoxxes IV with meteorites carrying a "Rockpox" that is infecting the planet, forcing miners to occasionally decontaminate cave systems.
130	* ''VideoGame/DragonProject'': Hell Makavrios is an AntiMagic bird-man with a plague doctor appearance and motif who serves as the [[ShockAndAwe Thunder]] [[UtilityWeapon Heat Bow]] Behemoth. Even his armor set is designed after plague doctors, and his set's name is Bubonia, [[MeaningfulName which is named after the Black Plague.]]
131	* ''[[VideoGame/DrownedGod Drowned God: Conspiracy of the Ages]]'': The Relic Hunter is a doddering old man from the 19th century who wears a red mask of this design, and while not an actual plague doctor, he is said to be a man who is well-read in a variety of subjects from religions across the world to alchemy.
132	* ''VideoGame/DungeonsOfDredmor'': One of the helmets you can find is a Plague Doctor's Mask. It provides minimal normal defense and a small penalty to your sight radius, but also gives substantial resistance to toxic, putrefying, and asphyxiation damage.
133	* ''VideoGame/{{Figment}}'': Invoked. The Plague, a nightmare representing the fear of disease, has a face resembling a plague doctor mask.
134	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' features two entire, stylized plague doctor outfits (including the iconic beaked mask and top hat) as spellcaster i185 gear sets drop from the Pharos Sirius Hard Mode and St. Mocianne's Arboretum dungeons: the Plague Doctor's set (worn by healers), and the Plague Bringer's set (worn by damage-dealing spellcasters).
135	* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'': The outfit for generic Dark Mages includes a mask similar to plague doctors' overlapping their hoods. Their promotion class, the Dark Bishop, continues this motif, but have the hoods overlapping their masks.
136	* ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney'': TheCoroner Dr. Maria Gorey wears a Plague Doctor-esque mask when first introduced.
137	* ''VisualNovel/HavenfallIsForLovers'': Frankenstein wears the full getup, which he very likely adopted back when such suits were in common use given that he's several centuries old.
138	* ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'': Silvio Caruso keeps a collection of Renaissance-era art and antiques in his mansion, one of which is a full Plague Doctor's outfit propped up on a mannequin. Agent 47 can, of course, use it as a disguise, but it's obviously a very suspicious getup so it's mostly only useful for challenges. Wearing it while walking around in an area where people won't immediately be hostile to you, however, will cause passers-by to comment that you've been [[ShoutOut playing too much]] [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII Assassin's Creed]].
139	* ''VideoGame/Injustice2'': A plague doctor mask is a customizable head option for Scarecrow.
140	%%* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': The Wizzrobes occasionally sport a similar outfit.
141	* ''VideoGame/LobotomyCorporation'': One of the [[EldritchAbomination abnormalities]] you have to manage is a plague doctor who appears to have a pair of large crow wings. The Plague Doctor is, thankfully, completely harmless and grants boons to up to twelve different employees who work with it. [[spoiler:Once the twelfth employee has been blessed, [[OneWingedAngel the Plague Doctor transforms]] into [=WhiteNight=], an angelic being who is the most dangerous Abnormality in the game, and the twelve blessed employees turn into monstrous Apostles who will rampage through your facility and one-shotting any agents they hit. Suppressing and containing [=WhiteNight=] is one of the hardest challenges in the game, especially since it possessing your employees counts as [[DisasterDominos employee deaths which trigger other Abnormalities breaching containment]].]]
142	* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'': The Great Girros armor sets resemble the traditional costume of a plague doctor. Fittingly, they're one of the sets that give the Effluvial Expert skill, which protects your health from being sapped in the lower levels of the Rotten Vale.
143	* ''VideoGame/MyFriendIsARaven'': The PlayerCharacter wears a plague doctor's uniform.
144	* ''VideoGame/OctopathTravelerII'' has Trousseau, a former apothecary who was once a kindhearted person, but becomes insane after an encounter with the game's main antagonists, and begins to kill people with poisoned rain, believing that he is saving people from the misery of living. He wears a plague doctor's suit to protect himself from his poison, but the hood he wears has a more modern design.
145	* ''VideoGame/{{Othercide}}'' is set in a dark world which has been swept by a plague. A whole group of enemy units are named "Plague [Something]", and all have the appearance of robed thin and tall (actually taller than your units) humanoids, which face include a long and pointy beak. One of them is literally named "Plague Doctor", it wears a hat (more a Robin Hood-esque cap than the classical round hat usually associated with the outfit), and wields a sickle.
146	* ''VideoGame/{{Outward}}'': The Plague Doctor, also known as the Jade-lich, is a specific [[OurLichesAreDifferent lich]] associated with the "decay" [[ElementalRockPaperScissors element]], i.e. poison and disease damage. He lives in a huge ziggurat in the Hallowed Marsh, siphoning the naturally-occurring decay energy out of the waters to feed himself, and also runs a cabal of dangerous cultists. His exact motivations aren't clear, but he claims to be working toward the benefit of humanity, and can be reasoned with if one is powerful enough to get his attention.
147	* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' has Reaper's "Plague Doctor" and "Nevermore" skins, which resemble a plague doctor's costume.
148	* ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'' has waxed leather clothing and plague mask hats.
149	* ''VideoGame/{{Pathologic}}'': Characters reminiscent of plague doctors pop up as the disease spreads throughout the town.
150	* ''VideoGame/Payday2'' has a Plague Doctor mask plus hat as a reward choice for reaching infamy level 2, along with a bonus for the Mastermind and Fugitive skill trees (the former of which includes medical skills).
151	* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': [[https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Spritzee Spritzee]] from ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' is a small pink bird who happens to be based on a plague doctor; its face resembles the iconic mask, it has the Healer ability (which lets it heal an ally's StatusEffects), one of its moves is Aromatherapy, and it's known as the Perfumed Pokémon. Its evolved form, [[https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Aromatisse Aromatisse]], does not continue this motif, however, instead resembling a [[StandardSnippet/TheCancanSong cancan dancer]] with [[MasqueradeBall a bird mask]].
152	* ''VideoGame/RagnarokOnline'': The guards of the city of Geffen [[http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRofF3aYcDF2iwddL2LO2yDe22cS_ow93oMbNgDO3O4Z-TBHhcl_syvH3g- have a uniform]] heavily based on the plague doctors, sans hat. There is, however, no plague. Note that the plague doctors' outfits in real life are themselves based on military uniforms.
153	* ''VideoGame/RuneScape'':
154	** There is a set of quests set in West Ardougne collectively named the Plague City Quests where a half of a city has been affected by a plague and the people are being treated by plague doctors known as the Mourners. As the player investigates it is discovered that the plague is actually a hoax and the Mourners are actually evil elves in disguise who are taking humans as slave labor under the guise of taking them to be treated.
155	** The 2018 Halloween event also had a side event running where you complete tasks to get [[AndYourRewardIsClothes stylized plague doctor uniform overrides]] in three different colors and [[PlayingWithSyringes syringe weapon overrides]] alongside the normal yearly event.
156	* ''VideoGame/SavageHalloween'' have alchemist enemies dressed like plague doctors as recurring mooks, who can somehow shoot {{Hand Blast}}s as an attack.
157	* ''Videogame/TheSerpentRogue'', a wide-open sandbox game where you play as a plague doctor (complete with metal bird-mask) exploring a world infested with illness. You spend the game trying to save as many lives as possible.
158	* ''VideoGame/ShovelKnight'': Plague Knight has the iconic mask, but switches out the overcoat for a robe, among other things. Then again, he's also a MadScientist who throws bombs as a primary battle tactic and aside from the mask is an alchemist rather than a doctor. An update of the game in 2015 let you play the whole game as him.
159	* ''VideoGame/TheSinkingCity'' has an unlockable plague doctor outfit.
160	* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' has some cosmetic items for the Medic based around the look: a plague doctor's mask called the "Blighted Beak", and the "Grimm Hatte" and "Virus Doctor" hats.
161	* ''VideoGame/{{Thymesia}}'': You play as one named Corvus, investigating the source of a plague infestation within the Kingdom of Hermes. In this case, it turns out the cure of the ''previous'' plague is the source of a newer, deadlier outbreak.
162	* ''VideoGame/TownOfSalem'': The Plaguebearer role has the appearance of an anthropomorphic crow wearing a plague doctor's outfit, and their role involves infesting the town to become [[HorsemenOfTheApocalypse Pestilence]]. Ironically, Doctor does not show up as a possible role to an Investigator.
163	* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'':
164	** Grand Apothecary Putress wears a mask inspired by the beak mask, and is a plague-spreader. Warlocks have a similar armor set, they, however, being demonic mages, have nothing to do with plague.
165	** Warlocks specialized in Affliction, however, do most of their damage by afflicting targets with various diseases and ailments as a primary means of dealing damage.
166	** ''Shadowlands'' adds a cloth armor set that was very clearly based on plague doctors.
167	** Plague Deviser Marileth wears a bird-skull mask and robes that give him this aesthetic. Though as his title suggests, his job is to create plagues rather than treat them.
168	* ''VisualNovel/ZeroTimeDilemma'': [[BigBad Zero II]]'s outfit is based off of a plague doctor, although obviously more for fashion than for function, judging by the frilly cravat and butterfly pin they also adorn. It is also symbolic of [[spoiler:him being the {{Plaguemaster}} who unleashes the Radical-6 virus on the world, which kills 6 billion people]].
169	[[/folder]]
170
171	[[folder:Web Animation]]
172	* ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'': In "[[Recap/HelluvaBossS2E4WesternEnergy Western Energy]]", two of the doctors at the hospital rushing to treat Stolas are dressed up in this attire.
173	[[/folder]]
174
175	[[folder:Web Comics]]
176	* ''Webcomic/BasketsOfGuts'':
177	** Animalculists have a touch of this. And especially their horses.
178	** Some of [[MadScientist paraanatomists]] also sport familiar masks.
179	** One of the criminal barons is a more classic example.
180	* ''Webcomic/{{Digger}}'': The trader Manuel wears a plague doctor mask at all times.
181	* ''Webcomic/IngridThePlagueDoctor'' has the titular character, as well as her mentor Dr. Fleming.
182	* ''Webcomic/{{Magience}}'' has a guild of Plague Hunters who wear {{black cloak}}s and [[EverythingsBetterWithRainbows rainbow-colored]] beak masks.
183	* ''Webcomic/{{Oglaf}}'': Navaan, the [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire "doctor"]], wears this outfit. Seen [[http://oglaf.com/jarlampham/ here]]. (Caution, surrounding comics are NSFW.)
184	* ''Webcomic/{{SSDD}}'': The captain of the Latihan wears a microbial isolation suit modeled after [[http://www.poisonedminds.com/d/20180809.html a plague doctor's outfit]] for the intimidation value. It's even worse after he pumps the atmosphere full of [[http://www.poisonedminds.com/d/20180820.html hallucinogens]].
185	* ''Webcomic/{{Swords}}'' has a minor character named [[https://swordscomic.com/archive/Characters/Plague%20Doctor%20MD/ Plague Doctor MD]], a medically trained troll who wears a surgical mask on top of his plague mask, just to be extra safe.
186	* ''Webcomic/TwistwoodTales'': Dr. Crowley dresses similarly to one, in "Strawberry Soo" the titular character confuses him for a crow due to the beak.
187	* [[http://thewretchedoneswebcomic.com/ The Wretched Ones]] has Charlie seeing a plague doctor on the street (in the 21st century). So far, no one else has seen it.
188	* [[https://www.deviantart.com/oomizuao/gallery/43559245/plague-doctor-comic This]] comic by norwegian comic artist Oomizuao features a plague doctor competing with Pesta, the Norwegian personification of the black death. He arrives too late to help in the first few farms, finding TheGrimReaper there waiting for him. The end of the comic reveals that the Reaper is following him because he's been afflicted with the plauge himself, although his time is not yet up.
189	[[/folder]]
190
191	[[folder:Web Original]]
192	* ''Franchise/TheFearMythos'': One of the Fears is known as the Plague Doctor. It looks like the historical doctor, but instead of treating disease, [[WalkingWasteland it spreads it.]]
193	* ''WebVideo/EphemeralRift'', an ASMR-specialised channel, has Corvus Clemmons, a plague doctor who will speak to the viewer as though they are his patient.
194	* ''Podcast/TheHiddenAlmanac'': Reverend Mord, the host, dresses as a plague doctor, though his job does not involve dealing with plagues. It's also been said that under the mask, he's actually a sentient swarm of beetles, but that's just a rumor. Probably.
195	* ''Website/{{Mortasheen}}'' features a family of monsters that are avian and heavily based in appearance on the plague doctor. This being ''Mortasheen'', they ''spread'' plague.
196	* French Website/YouTube documentary channel ''[[https://www.youtube.com/user/notabenemovies/ Nota Bene]]'' (focused on history and mythology) has an 8-bit like plague doctor drawing as its logo. A more detailed one also appears in the opening title of early videos.
197	* The ''Website/SCPFoundation'' has [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-049 SCP-049]]. [[{{Creepypasta}} This being the Foundation]], naturally he's a horrifying DeadlyDoctor. He also doesn't seem to be aware that he is one, and [[ObliviouslyEvil genuinely thinks that he's helping to treat the Plague]]. He actually isn't a man wearing plague doctor clothes but a humanoid entity whose skin and face are identical to plague doctor's garb and mask. It is never made clear if the pestilence he claims to cure is a real disease threatening humanity or he is just delusional. There's also an AffectionateParody of him in the form of [[http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-049-j SCP-049-J]], which is basically the original SCP-049 played for BlackComedy. SCP-049 also has an alternate universe counterpart in the Aces & Eights canon who is a more normal plague doctor, and also female, except instead of wearing the outfit to protect herself from disease, she wears it to make sure she doesn't spread the disease she is carrying to the people around her.
198	[[/folder]]
199
200	[[folder:Western Animation]]
201	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': Princess Bubblegum wears this in "[[Recap/AdventureTimeS1E24WhatHaveYouDone What Have You Done?]]". She was spraying a green gas that covered the candy kingdom in fog. Unsurprisingly, Finn and Jake got scared.
202	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Disenchantment}}'': One appears in [[Recap/DisenchantmentS1E1APrincessAnElfAndADemonWalkIntoABar the pilot]], surprisingly presented as a ''regular'' doctor with an office in Dreamland.
203	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E18AHealthOfInformation A Health of Information]]", the legendary pony healer Mage Meadowbrook wore a plague doctor-like mask while calling on patients. In her time, healers are stated to have worn such masks for the explicit purpose of not catching sicknesses themselves. Meadowbrook's mask in particular also had the secondary function of [[spoiler: keeping the Flash Bees calm so she could collect their honey for her cures]].
204	* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': The [[{{Mooks}} various members]] of the Emperor's Coven all wear uniforms reminiscent of plague doctors. In an interesting touch, the type of bird your mask is styled after seems to represent your rank; the town guards look like ravens, [[WardensAreEvil Warden Wrath]] wears a classic ibis mask, Coven Witches have parrot-like helmets, we briefly see a musician wearing a [[VisualPun songbird]] variant, [[TheDragon the Golden Guard]] has an owl helmet, and [[BigBad Emperor Belos]] himself wears a golden helm that kind of resembles a vulture head (with horns).
205	* ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'': The Druids' overall design is influenced by this — white masks with pointy noses and hoods replacing the hats.
206	[[/folder]]
207
208	[[folder:Real Life]]
209	* There's the continued use of the decorative ''Medico Della Peste'' (Plague Doctor) mask-and-costume set in the Venetian ''Carnevale'' to this day. Many settings even [[CityOfCanals only semi-based on Venice]] have a tendency to trot it out, as well as the other masks (most based in the CommediaDellArte). For instant decadence, just add death and pretty masks.
210	* The DeadlyDoctor part of the trope has some credence. Based on Miasma theory, if the outside of the suit didn't smell then it was safe. Therefore a plague doctor could be unknowingly carrying around infectious material from plague victims and bringing them to patients who had less serious illnesses. Since sterilization wasn't perfected until much later, plague doctors may have been spreading the disease on some occasions.
211	** Plague doctors had a habit of dying quite regularly as epidemics became lengthy. Sure, the outfit could and did protect them from the fleas that were the real problem while they went about wearing it, especially when new. But, they didn't understand how to remove what they were wearing without transferring whatever they had picked up that day to themselves at the end of it. Not to mention the bacteria and mould build-up caused by moisture in the interior of the mask through use combined with the difficulty of cleaning all those seams. And, many would sleep near their gear at night. Spot the problem? Yeah: if it wasn't plague-carrying fleas, you were likely to pick something ''else'' up from the fluids and/or worse you still had on there. Because a quick hose-down every so often that would remove visible signs of "miasma" wouldn't catch ''an awful lot''.
212	** Thankfully while they didn't know the exact reasons, plenty of plague doctors ''did'' catch on that thoroughly rinsing with water and vinegar, cleansing their suit with smoke, or other cleaning both kept the foul smells away but also kept them from getting sick. Later plague doctors also adopted practices that meant they didn't need physically touch the patients, such as checking a pulse with a cane; which further reduced transmission.
213	* The popular head-to-toe outfit with the beaked mask was invented by Charles de Lorme in the early 17th Century. The beaked mask functioned as a primitive respirator. It had two tiny holes to allow air to pass in and out. To remove odor, the mask was stuffed with aromatic chemicals. These chemicals included dried roses, caryophyllus, and ground mentha. Phytoncides were also added to disinfect breathable air. Some masks had a special sponge soaked with vinegar located at the end of the beak, serving as a filter, collecting pathogenic particulates that pass through.
214	* During the UsefulNotes/CoronavirusPandemic in April-May 2020, police in Norwich, England were [[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-plague-doctor-hellesdon-norfolk-police-a9489781.html looking for a persistent curfew-violator who had been seen in the north-western suburbs of the City in full Plague Doctor outfit]]. It has been pointed out that Hellesdon is the district containing the local university, which has both a medical school and teaches a cross-disciplinary degree in the History of Medicine. And that it is reputed the university was built over the sites of several medieval mass graves for plague victims -- something the School of East Anglian History would be well aware of.
215	* At the start of the UsefulNotes/Covid19Pandemic, it was quite the trend among certain hipsters to try to turn their medical masks into a fully functioning {{Cosplay}} of a PlagueDoctor's mask, which is the definition of irony since their medical mask and the PlagueDoctor's mask is literally the same thing after 700 years of medical science and improvment — The beak wasn't put there and filled with herbs because it looked cool, it was there for the exact same reason as the medical mask is filtered to the smallest possible amount — We are using the height of our medical knowledge to figure out the most effective way to stop breathing in diseases.
216	** There were also several sightings of people in the UK during the early stages of the lockdowns using their hour of allotted time outdoors to [[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-52533718 walk around in the full attire]], possibly to spook those who were breaking the rules or simply to play a few pranks.
217	[[/folder]]

Context Main / PlagueDoctor