Alicia Puglionesi
Articles From This Author
How a Romanticized Take on Pocahontas Became a Touchstone of American Culture
Philadelphia theatergoers met the character of Pocahontas on stage for the first time in 1808. Many knew her already from poems and romantic sketches of the famous young woman that circulated in newspapers. But theater had a different kind of power. The play, titled The Indian ...read more
The Civil War Doctor Who Proved Phantom Limb Pain Was Real
In July of 1866, a short story called “The Case of George Dedlow” appeared in the Atlantic Monthly. It’s remembered today as a vivid early description of “phantom limb” pain: Dedlow, the narrator, has lost both arms and both legs in the Civil War, yet he experiences clenching and ...read more
Americans Once Avoided the Hospital at All Costs—Until ERs Changed That
The emergency room is the only type of medical facility in the U.S. where patients have a right to receive care, regardless of whether they carry insurance or not. Intended for quick treatment of people in crisis, emergency departments have become a safety net for all kinds of ...read more