Finally, we suggest that "When thinking about individual means of protection today, it is worth asking how such measures shift responsibility for health and how, by making dangerous workplaces seem safe, they might ultimately enable the expansion of such working environments."

We also show that "Throughout the entire 19th century, masks remained a technological utopia, an unfulfilled promise that people could work safely in highly toxic environments."

In this paper, we argue that "Today's medical masks have little to do with the epidemic masks of the past. Instead, they were developed in response to the Industrial Revolution as a means of protecting people from dust and other harmful substances in the workplace."

4/12 The medical masks we use today weren’t originally invented for epidemics or hospital infections — they were created to protect workers in dusty factories!

Developed massively in the 19th C, but rarely worn until the 1920s.

Factory worker in Pittsburgh, 1958 (Photo by James Blair)

And they used to hate masks. @brunostrasser.bsky.social yalebooks.yale.edu/2025/08/12/w...

3/12 - During Covid-19, men refused to wear masks more often than women. Already in the 19th c., men objected to protective masks—because real men know no fear!

Fearless Napoleon touches a plague victim with his face uncovered. His frightened marshal holds a cloth to his mouth (A.-J. Gros, 1804).

Thanks!

2/12 - When we look at images of people with cloths over their faces during past epidemics, we think of modern filtering masks.

In fact, these pieces of cloths were perfuming devices, soaked in vinegar, when odors caused diseases!

Bas-relief, 12th century, Cathedral of Basel, CH.

#histstm

With Ernest Mangesho we are moving to Tanzania. The project "After the Single Use" comprises eigth countries

#eahmh25

wellcome.org/research-fun...

The Mask is discussed by David Gentilcore, Christoph Gradmann, @ahlie.bsky.social and @luchen.bsky.social

#eahmh25 #histmed