Poster (b&w), 'Man dies from scratch' , mock up of newspaper headline informing the public about Tetanus, one of 800 health education posters produced for the Central Council for Health Education (1927-69), Health Education Council (1969-87) and Health Education Authority (1987-2000).

Tetanus is a bacterial infection which causes muscle spasms and tightness in the jaw, hence its other name, ‘lockjaw’. The bacteria can enter the body through cuts, grazes and animal bites. If wounds are left uncleaned, the bacteria can spread to the rest of the body. Tetanus is treated using an anti-toxin and antibiotics but if left untreated is fatal. Tetanus is now rare in the United Kingdom due to vaccination programmes. Five doses of the vaccine are required for a person to gain life-long immunity.