Why did people wear Magpie beaks during the Black Death?

During the Black Death, some physicians wore beak-like masks filled with aromatic substances, including herbs and spices, in an attempt to protect themselves from the miasma, or "bad air," which they believed was responsible for spreading the plague. The long beak allowed for ventilation and was thought to filter out harmful odors. This bizarre fashion was part of a broader set of medieval medical practices that reflected the limited understanding of disease transmission at the time. Ultimately, the beak masks became iconic symbols of the era's struggle against the epidemic.