Venereal Diseases - Quack "Cures" are Useless

A photographed man examines a pill from a bottle beside a large 'VD' and the banner 'Quack "cures" are useless', with an arrow pointing down to the text. The label 'quack' dismisses all self-treatment in one word, and 'Delay is dangerous' appeals to fear, while the poster also gives practical information that treatment is free and confidential.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Fear appealName-calling

Date

1939

Period

Second World War

Made by

Ministry of Health and Central Council for Health Education; artist Maurice Bennett; printed for H.M. Stationery Office by J. Howitt & Son, Ltd., Nottingham

Region

Western and Central Europe

Country

United Kingdom

Medium

Poster

Issuer type

State

Regime

Churchill Government

Leader

Winston Churchill

Audience

Domestic public

Purpose

Warn or inform

Theme

Health

Event

World War II

Regime

Churchill wartime government

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)
Ministry of Health and Central Council for Health Education; artist Maurice Bennett; printed by J. Howitt & Son Ltd., c. 1939-1945. U.S. National Archives, RG 44.

VD
Venereal Diseases
Quack "cures" are useless

NO SELF TREATMENT EVER CURED SYPHILIS OR GONORRHŒA. IF YOU THINK YOU ARE INFECTED, GET THE BEST MEDICAL ADVICE. DELAY IS DANGEROUS

Confidential information and advice about venereal diseases and their treatment can be obtained FREE from the Local Health Department or from the Medical Adviser, Central Council for Health Education, Tavistock House, Tavistock Square, London, W.C.1

Treatment is free and confidential

ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR HEALTH EDUCATION

[...] for H.M. Stationery Office by J. Howitt & Son Ltd., Nottingham.  51-3250