S You will have noticed that Dr. Cardew has not
accepted Leslie Adrian's challenge to define the true nature of the fluoride to be added to our drink- ing water. The reason is understandable; it would Tissue very damaging to the promotion of ;a scientific
of this nature' were the public to learn that
the fluoride in question is RAT potsom—to put it bluntly—or `rodenticide' to put it more genteelly, or as described in The Condensed Chemical Dictionary (1956, fifth edition). Under the heading 'Uses :' sodium fluoride is also described as being used in fluoridation of municipal water supplies, as an in- secticide, and as a fungicide.
Although a few facts are given by Dr. Cardew to impress the layman regarding the benefits of fluoridation, he- carefully_ refrains from mentioning any of the very many established facts which are detrimental to it, such as : that over 800 towns in America have rejected or discontinued fluoridation; that in some American towns where the children's teeth were badly decayed the fluoridation pro- gramme was hurriedly dropped when it was found that the water already contained IPPM of fluoride; that a number of communities drinking fluoride-free water have nevertheless excellent teeth—showing fluoride to be non-essential to healthy teeth; that crippling fluorosis in natural fltipride areas at or near the so-called safe concentration has been ad- mitted even by some of the top American proponents themselves; that in America over 1,000 dentists and physicians have signed a statement condemning fluoridation issued by the 'Medical-Dental ad hoc Committee on Evaluation of Fluoridation'; that in Britain many leading dentists and physicians are opposing fluoridation, including Dr. Sinclair, of Oxford, who warns . this is one of many examples where a little learning is a dangerous thing, and where health may be injured and science brought to disrepute by the incautious and premature application to public health of insufficiently investi- gated procedures.' (BMJ, December 14, 1957.) As the health of the teeth is intimately related to the health of the body, the only logical way of solving the present-day appalling problem of tooth decay is through improved nutrition. Dr. R. G. Davies, principal school medical officer for Hudders- field, recommends 'the education of parents and children in the prevention of dental disease' as the only answer to this problem. Might I add that it is necessary, above all, to educate mothers regarding the grave danger not only to teeth, but to health, of allowing their children to indulge in unlimited sweet-eating?—Yours faithfully, DORIS GRANT The Warren, Maxwell Road, Northwood, Middlesex
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