The School House, Dover College FLUORIDATION
SIR,—What is the scientific background be- hind Dr. Thomson's superficial letter? He says Nature has added fluorides to our drink- ing water. Does this mean that if a hole is bored in the ground over a bed of arsenic and the water is thus contaminated, it should he regarded as a dispensation of Nature, and must we then regard those people whose drinking water contains no arsenic as ' being unfortunate and seek to introduce arsenic in all water supplies? Similarly, if natural water supplies (rivers and lakes) are permitted to be polluted with sewage, etc., making it neces- sary to bore holes to provide domestic water, should this supply be found to contain fluorine capable o•f mottling teeth (visible evidence of its toxicity), what scientific evidence can Dr. Thomson offer that the toxic effect on the developmental organs of the teeth will limit itself only to the teeth and then abruptly cease
its effect? The point has been raised in a scientific publication but no answer has been forthcoming. The plain fact is that bore-hole water supplies can in no sense be regarded as natural water supplies.
The fact that millions of people in the US are drinking fluoridated water cannot be ad- duced as evidence that fluoridation does no harm.
Dr. Thomson refers to a minority who are against fluoridation. What evidence can he produce that the opponents arc in fact a ,
minority? It is well known that the propa- ganda machine and the 'educational' facilities have been in the hands of the proponents of fluoridation for over ten years, yet despite this fact surely more than twenty million people have rejected fluoridation in the US alone and more will yet reject it when the full facts are known—and may I remind Dr. Thomson that recently fluoridation was rejected on behalf of the whole of France by the Pasteur Insti- tute in full possession of the facts.
Dr. Thrimson has voiced his personal view. but it is notable that the British Medical Association has not so far endorsed fluorida- tion. Like Brcr Rabbit they 'say nuflin'.' Cali Dr. Thomson tell us on what grounds they have acted so unconventionally?
Dr. Thomson must admit there are many scientific questions regarding fluoridation which remain unanswered. For example, if he were asked what is the cause of mottled enamel, his answer would undoubtedly be. 'Fluorine.' If he were asked what is the cause of tuberculosis and he replied, 'A microbe.' even the most unscientific of minds would inquire, 'Which microbe?' 'There are published papers which have pointed out the difference between the fluoride found in natural foods (fish and meat) and the fluoride it is proposed to add to water supplies. Is Dr. Thomson unmindful of these published facts?
With regard to his own personal problem, it is a simple matter for him to add the requisite amount of sodium fluoride to a ewer of water and compel his children to drink only from this supply. Even in this case his fluoridation scheme would be compulsory.— Yours faithfully, CHARLES DILLON Caladh, Fors William, Inverness-shire
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