Polio katherine black has produced a dramatic account of the poliomyelitis epidemics and their social impact in the shadow of polio is skillfully written and has an abundance of references 262 notes plus a bibliography the author has portrayed the medical and social dilemmas that patients families physicians and society faced in this often fatal or crippling disease. In the shadow of polio offers a penetrating look at this intense and significant period in american history black explores the lethal progression of her mothers illness and its devastating emotional impact upon her family interweaving her story with chapters that broaden into the social and historical context of the epidemic that randomly . In the shadow of polio offers a penetrating look at this intense and significant period in american history black e in 1954 kathryn blacks mother became one of the millions of people worldwide stricken with polio. Up to 90 off textbooks at amazon canada plus free two day shipping for six months when you sign up for amazon prime for students