'The Louse Danger', poster,United Kingdom, 1918

One of 3 posters, entitled 'The Louse Danger', with illustrations by Grace Edwards, published by British Museum (Natural History), London, 1918

Produced by the Natural History Museum, (then attached to the British Museum), this poster explains the dangers of an insect known as the body louse. The louse is a carrier of diseases such as fever, typhus and trench fever. There is information about how to prevent and treat infestations. Common methods include applying heat and chemicals such as kerosene on to clothes and sheets, especially in the seams. Scratching when infested with lice was to be avoided at all costs as it irritated the skin even more. The magnified picture of a louse is alarming, designed to shock people into action.