The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-08-20
Public Thoughts Regarding F|uoridated Water

ginning of the study. At the onset
OF the investigation each individual
received a thorough medical and
dental examination. The clinical
exam and laboratory tests were re-
peated in 1853.
DR.. Leone, reported the findings
for the two groups, 9. it is clear
that the only difference attribut-
able to the excessive fluoride ex-
posture is dental nothing in Bart
lett"
The public health service did not
have ready for release at the time
of this hearing but released last
month statistical study of death
rates in 81 cities which fluoridate
their water and 80 neighboring CT
ties which do not. Death rates from
heart diseases, cancer, intracrani.
al LESSONS, nephritis and cirrhosis
OF the liver were found to be about
the same between the two groups.
The cancer death rate was actually
lower in the fluoride cities; 1854
per hundred thousand as compared
with 1891 for the non-fluoride ci-
ties.
Another witness testifying on the
safety of the fluoridation procedure
was Wallace D. Armstrong, M. D.,
Pm. D., professor and head of the
department Of physiological chem
lstry at the University of Minneso-
ia Medical School.
DR.. Armstrong said, "Misunder.
standing have arisen in discussions
OF fluoridation owing to the fact
that very large amounts of fluoride
are toxic. When sodium huoride is
employed as a rat or cockroacn
poisons the dry and nearly pure
compound is used. The aim is 20
produce acute, lethal fluoride in
toxication in the vermin, a circum-
stance which would require an i'm.
possible large intake of fluoridat.
ed water. In water fluoridation the
flouride compound is highly diluted
to one part Of fluoride to a million
parts Of water"
During this sides testimony
those opposed to nuoridation had
voluntarily absented themselves
from the hearing room. They were
probably out refreshing themselves
from the gallon jugs of water they
all carried.
The first witness in favor of the
bill to forbid the health procedure
was Claude N. Palmer of Washing
ton, appearing as director of the
National Committee against Fluor.
ldation. Under questioning, Mr..
Palmer said his group was made
up Of "about 275 members" Also
speaking for the grou pwas Mrs.
Vera Adams, President, and Vim.
cent Kleinfeld, both of Washington
Mr.. Neinfeld, who was counsel for
the Delaney committee Ga com
mittee of the SIND Congress which
considered fluordation) said he was
now counsel for the antifluoridation
group and described the procedure
as mass medication without par.
allel." afa q
This charge was echoed by an
official representative of the Chris.
tan Science denomination which
for the first time was openly re-
corded as against the fluoridation
procedure.
In a statement, James Watt of
Washington said he represented
the mother church in Boston and
Its 5000 branch churches. He quot
ed a decision by a district Judge
In Shreveport, Louisiana holding
that fluoridation was mass medi-
cation.
Six days after Mr.. Watt testified,
the Louisiana Supreme Court re-
versed the district courts decision
and held that the fuoridation pro-
cedure could not be construed as
mass medication. The court cited
the overwhelming support for flu
oxidation on the part of the leading
American dentists, physicians and
scientists. The Louisiana decision
made unanimous the favorable rul-
ings on fluoridation in all eight
states where it has been a court
issue.
Two physicians appeared to OPP
pose fluoridation. Leo Spira, M. D.
Of New York City said he came
here in 1851 ito help in the fight