This thesis is a study of a post-World War II polio epidemic in one small Southwest Virginian town before widespread application of the vaccine. While others have explored urban public health responses to polio and national efforts to promote prevention and treatment efforts, in this history I look at reactions to the disease at the local level in this rural community particularly hard-hit by an acute medical event. The central question addressed in the research is how the polio epidemic changed the nature of community. Prior to the polio epidemic in this rural Southwest Virginian town, community meant creating and strengthening social ties throughout town—most visibly through large social functions and leisure gatherings such as church or baseball. Through identifying and analyzing reactions to the epidemic among families/individuals, the public health, and business, a transition emerged. Being a part of community during the summer polio epidemic meant protecting the public health while simultaneously protecting economic health as a backbone and lifeline of the family. / Master of Arts

This investigation was designed to secure data concerning the over-all effects of a high fox population on other game species, particularly the quail, rabbit, squirrel and ground-hog. In order to obtain a better understanding of the influence of the red fox upon other game species, some knowledge of the size of the populations of other game animals must be known. For this reason, a rather intensive study of the fox was made on the 2300- acre V.P.I. College Farms as some data were available on this area regarding the population and population changes in the quail, rabbit, squirrel and woodchuck. The study was carried on from April, 1950, to March, 1952. An extremely high fox population existed on the area during the period covered by the investigation (April, 1950, through March, 1952), so it was natural for the study to be carried on here. It is hoped that this investigation will point out some of the ecological factors which must be considered in determining a sound wildlife program for the management of the red fox and other game species on the same areas. / M.S.