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Discover the contents of

Philatelia Medica 220

This page offers three selected reading samples from PM 220. They provide representative insights into the thematic diversity of the issue, which connects medical, pharmaceutical, and cultural-historical questions with philately.

The selection ranges from a critical examination of the structural limits of curative medicine in dealing with dying in the 20th century, to the groundbreaking perspective of Cicely Saunders, who—drawing on personal experience—developed a new understanding of suffering and thus laid the foundation for palliative care, and finally to a look at the importance of closeness and social bonds at the end of life—not only in humans, but also in animal behavior.

All contributions are richly illustrated with philatelic material—ideal for anyone interested in philately and medical topics.

You can easily browse through the pages: move your cursor to the lower left corner of the article—a small arrow will appear, allowing you to turn to the next page.

CONTENT OF PM 220 (in german)

U1 - PM220

READING SAMPLE 1

Modern medicine reaches its limits at the end of life: dying often remains invisible in a system focused on treatment and success. Why a shift in thinking began precisely here—and how it gave rise to a new form of medicine.

PM220-2026-02-22a-englisch-palliativ

 

READING SAMPLE 2

Pain is more than a symptom—and suffering more than a medical problem.
Cicely Saunders recognized early on that people at the end of life suffer not only physically, but also emotionally, socially, and existentially—and in doing so, she laid the foundation for a form of medicine that sees the person as a whole at the end of life.

PM220-2026-02-22a-englisch-Saunders

READING SAMPLE 3

When a life ends, hardly anyone is truly alone—not even in the animal world.
Elephants, dolphins, and chimpanzees show closeness, touch, and lingering presence around dying companions—revealing that care at the end of life is more deeply rooted in our nature than we often realize.

PM220-2026-02-22a-englisch-tiernähe