If You Are Suffering from Scabies
A large scabies mite fills the left panel, with a khaki soldier's silhouette walking across its body; the right panel gives plain health instructions for servicemen on leave and their families. The fear appeal is the oversized parasite enclosing the soldier, set against factual advice on symptoms and free treatment.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1939
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- His Majesty's Stationery Office (printed for HMSO by H. Manly & Son Ltd); artist Abram Games
- Region
- Western and Central Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Churchill Government
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Theme
- War and the military
- Event
- World War II
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (UK Crown copyright, 50 years from publication, expired before 1996; no URAA restoration)
His Majesty's Stationery Office; artist Abram Games; printed by H. Manly & Son Ltd. US National Archives (NAID 44266600, 44-PF-208b).
Text on the object
IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM SCABIES Scabies is caused by a small insect which burrows into the skin. This insect can pass from person to person. The burrowing of the insect in the skin usually causes itching. If you have been on leave, either you may have infected someone at home, or, possibly, someone at home may have infected you. Scabies can cause much suffering to children and babies: If you have been on leave during the past six weeks, you should write home at once and ask if anyone at home has noticed any spots on their body or limbs, perhaps associated with itching. If anyone at home has these symptoms, they should go to the doctor, or, if they have no doctor, to the hospital for Treatment. In civilian life treatment can usually be given without loss of working hours. If they are in any difficulty at home about where to go, the Medical Officer of Health, in any large town, or the County Medical Officer, if they live in the country, will give them all the information they require, without charge. PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY H. MANLY & SON LTD. 51-2447.
