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Why plague doctors wore beaked masks

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TEDEd Animation

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The year is 1656. Your body is wracked by violent chills. Your head pounds and you're too weak to sit up. In your feverish state, you see a strange-looking man wearing a beak-like mask, his body covered from head to toe. Without seeing his face, you know: you have the plague. So, where did these iconic outfits come from? Stephanie Honchell Smith explores the history of plague doctors.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Stephanie Honchell Smith
  • Director Anton Bogaty
  • Narrator George Zaidan
  • Music Samuel Bellingham
  • Sound Designer Samuel Bellingham
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Producer Alexandra Zubak
  • Associate Producer Sazia Afrin
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Fact-Checker Charles Wallace

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