Evening star., 1952-02-21
; Experts Urge
u. 5. Showdown
On FIuoriidation
Soy Teeth Benefit,
But Tests Indicate
Possible Harm to BODY

Three experts today cautioned
American cities to go slow in
adopting fluoridation Of water as
IA means of reducing tooth decay
among children.
They testified before the House
Committee on Chemistry in Foods.
The witnesses and their stories:
l. DR.. E. B. Hart, professor of
biochemistry at the University of
Wisconsin, who has directed ex-
|periments on the effect of adding
f1uorides to the diet of domestic
animals, He testified that gen.
eral fiuoridation of water in the
United States should not begin
for another five years, when ex-
periments in Newburgh and
Kingston, N. Y, on the effects of
f1uoridation will be completed.
Fears Fluorine "Overflow."
eff the fluorine level in the diet
and water reaches a point where
the capacity of the bones to store
fluorine has been met, then there
will be an overflow into the soft
tissues with the possibility of
damage to the kidney, liver and
heart. This is why I prefer to
wait until the completion OF the
Kingston -Newburgh experiments
before recommending the general
f1uoridation of water"
2. DR.. v. O. Hurme, director of
clinical research at the Forsyth
Dental 1nfirmary for Children in
Boston. There IS not enough
scientific basis for recommending
immediate acceptance of proposals
to treat entire populations with
If1uorides. There is no need for
unrestrained haste for prescrib-
ing fluorides internally"
3. DR.. J. r. Blayney, director of
the Evanston Qll.) Dental Carries
Studies-a project which has
completed statistics on the ef-
fects of four years of fuoridating
water at Evanston. He said the
number Of defective permanent
|polars' of children has been cut
4S per cent.
Tests Not Finished.
DESPITE these "encnllra oi,,o va
Suits" he said, any city wishing
to add f1uoride to its water
should thoroughly understand
that investigative work on the
problem has not yet been COM
|pleted."
All witnesses agreed that ex-
periments indicate that adding
sodium fuoride to drinking water
reduces tooth decay among chill
dren. The doubts are over pos
sible harmful effects of fluoride
on other parts of the body.
The District plans to add fiuoride
to drinking water this spring.
The United States Public Health
Service strongly recommends the
plan which was indorsed once
again yesterday by Commissioner
F. Joseph Donohue. Commissioner
Donohue discounted fears over
f1uoridation and expressed conf
dence in the Districts program.
Suggests More Study.
Representative Miller, Republi-
can, of Nebraska a member of the
House committee studying the
problem said at today's hearing
maybe we should have more
study first" before cities begin
huoridation.
Representative Miller, a physi-
clan, attacked Commissioner DON
ohue for his confidence.
"A Commissioner has to know
everything about everything-just
like q Congressman" Representa-
tive Miller said. Being a lawyer
and Commissioner, he presumably
is an expert on everything, and
we can take his word that the Dis
trict should 60 ahead and huori-
date water.
"But it seems to me that there
are so many problems and un-
knowns involved, maybe we should
Ihave more SfI1dv fret -