The Magistrato alla Sanità employed a protomedico — or chief physician — to oversee the medical parts of the responsibilities of the magistracy.

When official documents — like the Capitoli Da osservarsi nelli Lazaretti from 1656 and later — mention the “doctor of the magistracy”, this is the person they refer to.

Besides tasks directly related to the prevention of plague outbreaks, he also oversaw the qualifications of midwifes, the safety of foodstuffs on sale, and anything, which was perceived to have a bearing on public health.

This is a much more realistic image of how a plague doctor might have looked.

Source: Gli abiti de veneziani di quasi ogni età con diligenza raccolti e dipinti nel secolo XVIII, by Giovanni Grevembroch (1731–1807), which in four volumes contains over six hundred watercolours of how Venetians dressed in the 1700s.

Chief Physician

In no City in the World, vigilance over everything that could harm the health of the People stand out as much as in Venice. The care of this important matter is directed by two most distinguished Senators, and three other Patricians,¹ who ensure that no pestilential disease enters or occurs in the Fatherland and in the State of the Republic.² They decree that spoiled foods are not sold, and that disorders which could cause contagion are prevented.

This supreme Magistrate, who holds authority over the Lives of Law-breakers,³ among many other Officials, appoints and pays a Chief Physician.

His duties are various, for which he must account very strictly to the aforementioned Over-superintendents and Superintendents. He inspects the Lazzaretti, where the Contagious goods are purified, examines the competence of the Midwives, and the aged medicines;⁴ he opens the Cadavers of Men who died unexpectedly, and summons the College of Physicians to confer with them on the most serious matters. His honourable Office, which is beneficial in itself, is nonetheless subject in such a manner that perhaps no other Public Minister carries that much responsibility. See the Resolution of June 30, 1617, with which even more responsibilities were entrusted to him.

Esse suum infirmo medicus memorare tenetur.
Mors praevisa parit saepe medelam animae.⁵

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To the Most Excellent Mr. Paolo Monticelli, whose virtue and goodness can never be sufficiently praised, it is prescribed by our gratitude to bring forth in this gathering the memory of his renowned Name.

Translator’s notes

1. The Magistrato alla Sanità (Magistracy of Health) had broad powers over everything public health related, which besides the lazzaretti, also included inns, prostitutes, pharmacies, doctors, rubbish collection, water supply etc. . ↩︎
2. The distinction Grevembroch tries to make here is probably between the dogado and the Stato da Terra Ferma, which were two separate administrative and judicial entities. ↩︎
3. The Magistrato alla Sanità had, since 1556, the authority to use the death penalty against those who broke the laws and decrees issued by the magistracy. ↩︎
4. Most likely a reference to theriac, which had to age for six months or more before use. ↩︎
5. These lines in Latin might be a later addition, as they seem to be in another hand. The translation is not straightforward, but the meaning is something like: The physician is bound to remind the sick of his state (of health) // Presentiment of one’s death often serves as a remedy for the soul. ↩︎

Original text

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