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TED-Ed

Why plague doctors wore beaked masks

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6,080 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

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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