Plague doctors - They were second rate, under-trained physicians. Many were not doctors at all, but people of other employments paid by towns. Plague doctor images that we are familiar with was not seen until the 1600s when the traditional plague doctor costume was created: heavy fabric cloak covered in wax to protect the doctors body & a mask to keep out the sick air. Masks had a long cone shape at the nose filled with scents to protect the doctor from bad air.