However, assuming the figure of 45-percent improvement, resulting from topical applications, to be correct as claimed by the dentists, is it not commonsense to send the child to the dentist every 2 years and have fluorine applied? This visit should be made regardless of fluorine, and while there the simple application can be made, thus bestowing its benefits to the one who needs it, without involving the many thousands who cannot profit by its use and do not choose to be forced to swallow it. In any event, this procedure for better or for worse limits the hazard to those who wish to take the chance.

Ninth As I understand it, fluorine is present in many foods and is essential to the human body. Sodium fluoride, the substance proposed to be used in our water, is a deadly poison, and is entirely different from the various complex fluorine-bearing compounds, organic and inorganic, occurring in nature. Tenth: When I first heard of the proposal to fluoridate public water supplies as a cure for decay of teeth, my immediate reaction was "wonderful." It seemed so easy to do.

When I learned that too much fluorine might discolor, mottle, or destroy the teeth, requiring accurate control of the amounts introduced into the water supply, I decided that the program could be a first-grade nuisance to the water division. Every time a mother found a cavity in a youngster's tooth we would be at fault for not providing enough fluoride; and whenever some youngster developed discolored or mottled teeth, the wrath of an outraged family would be unsparingly poured upon our heads. As a nuisance possibility it made me shudder, and I began to be afraid of it, because if it could be a nuisance, it could be dangerous. Sabotage is an ugly word. The enemies of America have not overlooked the possibility of using the water supplies of the country to sabotage the health of the people. It is an item that has given us some concern in preparing the civildefense measures necessary in case of war.

If we fluoridate our water, we will equip all of our plants to inject a deadly poison into our water. Has it occurred to any of you here that saboteurs, just one in each plant, by turning a valve, could inject a tasteless poison into our water in deadly quantities?

CONCLUSION

Speaking for myself only as an officer of the water division, I am not convinced that fluoridation is desirable, or even safe.

It should be understood that I have not reached any final conclusion about the matter other than a definite decision that we should not risk spoiling the best water supply in the Nation unless there is definite and conclusive proof that the addition of fluorine to Memphis water will be of benefit to all the people, worth what it will cost, and that the use of fluoride is safe for all the peopleyoung children, old people, well and sick people. Since the responsibility falls on the city government and the division, I feel, in the absence of convincing proof, that the answer should be "No."

In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, I feel sure that the committee will give equal weight to both sides of this important issue since undoubtedly it will directly affect all of us and all of our families.

I feel that in view of the serious consequences of fluoridation the committee should exhaust every possible means of investigating this proposal before taking favorable action.

STATEMENT OF VIEWS ON PROPOSAL TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO ADD ANY FLUORIDE COMPOUND TO PUBLIC DRINKING WATER, BY H. L. PRESTHOLDT

This statement refers to H. R. 2341, introduced by the Honorable Roy Wier, intended to make it unlawful to dissolve any fluoride compound in waters intended for human consumption.

For the purpose of this statement, whenever fluorine, fluoride, sodium fluoride. or the fluosilicate, or when any of these terms are used it means, and the reference is to a fluoride compound irrespective of its nature, composition, or physical property.

The element fluorine is a member of the halogen group. It is extremely poisonous, dangerous to handle, and found in nature usually in combination with calcium.

Several years ago, it was brought to the attention of several scientists that wherever the soil or water contained quantities of fluorine, that invariably in

such areas, a number of people suffered from fluorosis. Considerable work was undertaken at that time to discover some practical means by which the fluorine or fluoride could be removed.

Sodium fluoride is the salt of an alkali and hydrofluoric acid. This acid is the result of a combination between the fluorine gas and the element hydrogen. When the element sodium is added it will combine with the acid to form sodium fluoride and by adding silicon, it will then form the sodium fluosilicate. Both of these salts are extremely poisonous and are frequently compared with arsenic, but they are considered more dangerous because of the great affinity of fluorine for calcium.

Salts or compounds containing fluorine are not recognized as having any therapeutic or medicinal value. A thorough search of medical literature does not establish or reveal any pathological condition where a fluoride compound is recommended either for internal or external use.

Physiologically, the sodium fluoride or the fluosilicate appear on the market in a white, heavy, dust-fine powder. It is being offered in two distinct grades, the commercial and the chemically pure. The commercial grade contains from 90 to 95 percent of sodium fluoride, the balance being inert or impure ingredients difficult to dispose of or remove. It is tasteless and odorless and completely soluble in water: and, because of these characteristics, it has been used extensively as a rat poison or pest exterminator.

The principal source of the fluorides are the piles of slag containing the element fluorine and is the result of the use of cryolite in the extraction of the metal aluminum.

Sodium fluoride or the fluosilicate does not appear in nature as such. They are manufactured and usually from the leftovers at the aluminum plant. The piles of these byproducts are difficult to dispose of as it is largely waste and because of the danger associated with any materials containing fluorine, it has been a manufacturing problem for many years.

It is

There has been a great struggle going on for considerable time to dispose of this waste. It is not permitted to be dissolved in rivers or streams. against the law to dispose of this material in the river or sea. The reason why is due to the inherent risks with possible effects on wildlife and farm stock. Great effort has been made to find an outlet for the fluorides. It is used quite extensively in art and industry especially in manufacturing adhesives and paints, but there is not sufficient industrial use to consume the constantly increasing quantity of waste containing fluorine, largely due to the enormous expansion and development of the metal aluminum industry.

For almost a generation, it has been recognized that in the fluoride sections of our country-notably the States of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and certain counties in the State of Texas-there is a percentage of fluorine in the water and the soil. It is in these localities where endemic fluorosis is prevalent both in humans and the animal kingdom. This discovery has led to many different opinions, but scientists have definitely brought out the fact that when young children in the age group from 8 to 10 years ingest fluorine or its compound that the incidence of dental caries are somewhat reduced as compared with similar conditions existing in localities or other States where the fluorine content of soil and water is practically nil.

It is not generally understood how nature dissolves the fluorides because calcium fluoride is insoluble. Somehow, nature has converted the calcium fluoride into a soluble substance where it is even possible for plantlife to absorb it and vegetables grown in soil tinctured with fluorides are found to be rich in fluorine.

Despite this situation, there is great opposition to the natural fluoride compound in these States because it leaves the teeth in a mottled, jagged, and brittle condition. It is an established fact that dental fluorosis is found in these communities with drinking water that contains 1 part per million and when the permanent teeth of children so raised they tend to erupt more or less chalky while in color and later tend to become pitted and stained yellow, brown, or almost black.

Scientists upon careful investigation admit that the teeth are less prone to decay at an early age, but subsequent to childhood these facts are reversed. The fluoride content is then proven to be a masking operation. The teeth become infinitely more susceptible to decay and are so brittle it is difficult for any dentist to accomplish needed repair.

Cognizance has been taken of these facts in the communities where the fluorides are naturally in the soil and water. It is frequently referred to as "natural

fluoride," which is fully justified because calcium fluoride is in itself insoluble; and, secondly, because the method under which nature effects a solution is unknown to scientists.

We shall not speculate just how nature effects either the solution or the extraction. The simple fact we must keep in mind is that the fluorides manufactured artificially are totally different in their toxic activities. They are infinitely more poisonous and destructive to life than the fluorides referred to as "natural."

With this as an established fact, the great opposition to what is represented as fluoridation is the thought of permitting authorities to substitute the commercial grade of raw fluorides and dissolve this in the public drinking water in lieu of the "natural" or "conditioned" fluorides. The purpose of this bill is to prevent and make it illegal or unlawful for anyone to dissolve any compound containing fluorine in the drinking water; and it is on this account that I request that this committee approve the resolution in question and recommend to Congress its passage.

Doctors of medicine authorized to practice are familiar with the therapeutic effects of drugs and medicines as well as toxicology and dosage. In a period of many years of practicing pharmacy, I have not come across any record or found any evidence showing that doctors prescribe or make use of any fluoride compound as an internal medicine. The literature is quite extensive concerning fluorides but is practically silent when it comes to describe its therapeutic value for human ingestion-the safe does that can be taken internally without serious or harmful result. But every medical man knows that to obtain the greatest result from any drug or medicine it is important to remember, especially in connection with fluorines, that more fluorides will be retained if it is given in small multiple doses than when a similar quantity is given in a small number of larger doses. A great deal has been written about the quantity of fluorides proposed to be used and that the individual dose is exceedingly small and on account of that no deleterious effect is found. It is proposed to limit the quantity to 1.2 parts per million, which is considered infinitestimal, but it is well for this committee to remember that the highest authorities in the land agree that one part per million is the cause of endemic fluorosis with a marked tendency to mottling of the teeth. It is because fluorides like the iodides, the mercurial preparations, and the salts of heavy metals possess the arbitrary quality of accumulating in the system, and in the case of the fluorides, they will combine with the calcium in the bones and teeth and finally flow over into the soft tissues with injurious consequences.

The introduction of this legislation is intended to meet the challenge of the Department of Health, Welfare, and Education, which will be referred to hereinafter as the Federal Board of Health, as this is the bureau that is responsible for the introduction on a national scale any fluoride compound to be dissolved in public drinking water and commonly referred to as "fluoridation." It is a proposal introduced simultaneously with the former administration's attempt to introduce to America a policy which has become recognized as "socialized medicine." In the beginning, it was not the intention, however, to introduce the fluorides in the public drinking water or make it compulsory that every individual be obliged to consume the drug. The first original attempt to use the raw fluorides was described in one of the public documents, GPO-0-813330. This was a method of using a fluoride therapy not by feeding it to the child as a sodium fluoride solution but was recommended for topical application, and the literature stated that "for the first time in history a practical method for the prevention of teeth decay that can be applied on a group basis has been introduced. Tests so far have shown that out of every 10 teeth that might otherwise decay, 4 may be saved by a new preventive method." Apparently, it had not yet been called to the attention of the Public Health Board that the quantity of sodium fluoride used in tropical application would be very insignificant indeed and would under no circumstances solve the problem confronting the concerns burdened with very large waste piles of cryolite residues saturated more or less with fluorine. Sometime subsequent to the recommendation of the topical use of fluorides, there was a change in the minds of the members of the Federal Health Board. Although they had hailed the topical application as the greatest discovery in history, they quickly united, as the minutes of their meetings indicate, on selling the American public on dissolving the fluorides in the drinking water and that every person irrespective of age or physical condition ingest the fluorides, although they freely admitted that no possible benefit could be derived by anyone except those in the age group of from 1 to 10 years.

You will understand from this statement that the proposal of fluoridation is not in itself a health measure or a health program as represented. It is pure politics; and, as such, it has met with considerable success as, according to their own figures, they now have practically a thousand communities aggregating some 10 million people daily drinking fluoride solution and consuming foods that have been cooked in it. It would take too long to recite the dishonesty and chicancery employed to promote fluoridation, the falsehoods, half-truths, distortions and evasions, the rigged endorsements and carefully engineered public demand. There is evidence to show that the proponents of fluoridation have tried desperately to secure public approval and to put the proposition across on a grand scale before the people realize the inherent dangers in the whole evil undertaking.

The first step was apparently to set up a plan which would conceal the true facts from the public and lend it a veneer of respectability by instituting several proving grounds or test areas whereby after 10 years they could prove conclusively that fluorides in the drinking water were beneficial and reduced the incidence of caries in the young age group. But even with this small attempt there arose considerable public opposition. Consequently, the Federal Health Bureau, instead of waiting for the results of the 10 years' experiments and trials, began to forcibly introduce fluoridation on a national scale. For this purpose, they made the various State boards of health and dental associations not only their ready tool to carry out their sinister purpose, but the boards of health and dental associations became their captives and have been working hand in glove with the Federal Health Bureau in their effort to fluoridate the American public. There are, of course, a great many individual dentists. prominent men, who are opposed to this form of mass medication. Many of them have dared to voice their opinion and hostility to the whole program. They have helred greatly to arouse the public against the whole plan. It has not been brought to our attention that any of our State board of health or the Federal Bureau has ever made a definite statement that by ingesting daily a fluoride that anybody past the age of 12 or 15 years could or would receive any or the slightest benefit from this medication. When you take into consideration that only 5 percent of the Nation's public water supply is used in the kitchen for cooking or for drinking, and as only the children between the ages of 1 to 10 admittedly are the only group that could receive any benefit, it means that only half of 1 percent of the total fluoride used can be used effectively. In other words, out of every $100 of tax money 50 cents will be used for the proponents' good purpose the balance, $99.50 will be wasted and go down the drain.

Although this may seem like a terrific waste of public funds, the American people would be willing and could well afford to do it providing they were assured of definite benefits for their children or for themselves. Unfortunately, that is not the case: but, instead, we have embarked upon a program that violates man's greatest experience, viz to keep the public water supply pure, wholesome, and potable. Fluoridation is mass medication on a grand scale ostensibly to accomplish a reduction of the incidence of caries of the very young, but it is mass medication and provided it is found to be legal or not made illegal. we may then have opened the way to use the various public water supplies throughout the country for further experiments in medication in such well known human ailments as rheumatism, high blood pressure, diabetes and anemia.

In order to save space, or rather for lack of space, the customary method of inserting the origin, the documentary evidence or reference after each statement or paragraph, I have reluctantly. dispensed with, but will supply upon request to proper parties the origin and full authentic information concerning every statement made.

The following facts appearing below are taken from:

Investigations and research by physiologists and biochemists, professors of medical colleges. M. I. T., engineers.

The hearing before Hon. Dr. Miller and other Members of Congress. Opinions and court decisions and testimony by experts and scientists at trials in the courts of law.

Reference books, medical literature, documents, scientific papers, medical dictionaries, encyclopedias, pamphlets, booklets, scientific articles, United States dispensatory.

Books on chemistry, pharmacological therapeutics by Drs. Goodman and Gil

man.

Papers from Professor Taylor of the University of Texas, Dr. Cristinai, Drs. Smith of Tucson, Ariz., Charles Eliot Perkins, Washington, D. C., biochemist, Dr. Charles A. Brusch of the Cambridge Medical Center, Dr. V. O. Hurme of the Forsythe Infirmary, Dr. Leo Spira of New York.

"Sodium fluoride is a general protoplasmic poison."

"Hydrofluoric acid produces a vesication and deep, progressive destruction of

tissue."

"Dangerous symptoms have been reported in man from 0.25 gm. of sodium fluoride."

"Fluoride poisoning tends to lower the calcium of the plasma." "Fluorides are strongly inhibitory to some enzymes."

"The addition of 0.4 percent of sodium fluoride renders shed blood noncoagulable."

"Sodium fluoride depresses the respiration of finely divided muscles." "Lipase is inhibited by N. A. F. 1: 5000."

"It is toxic to nerves."

"Endemic fluorosis is a serious problem in Argentina."

"It has not yet been demonstrated that the addition of raw fluorides to the water supply has the same effect on children living continuously for the first 12 years of life in fluoride areas."

"If caries do start in mottled teeth it spreads rapidly."

"The changes in human teeth consists of chalky white patches often pitted and eroded."

"Bone changes are seen especially with industrial exposure to the dust of cryolite or phosphate rock."

"Nonfatal doses when ingested continously cause general cachexia and inhibition of growth."

"In lower animals, analogous changes occur in teeth and the bones become hard, fragile, or brittle."

"Marconi reported severe acute parenchymatous nephritis or chronc poisoning of guinea pigs with fairly large doses of fluoride."

"Fluorine is not and cannot be effectively used for the purpose of sterilizing the water."

"It remains in the water and a rise in temperature accelerating evaporation leaves the fluorine unaffected and increases the concentration."

"Fluoridation will not cure dental caries nor prevent it entirely even in the young-age group which it is designed particularly to serve."

"We cannot escape the conclusion that fluoridation is a form of medication." "Damaging to the brain and nerve cells."

"Harmful to the reproductive organs with the resultant lowering of the birth rate."

"Affects the thyroid gland and damages the liver."

"Creates a high incidence of bone fractures."

"Some of the highest life expectancies are reported from the regions of the globe with the least fluorine in the soil or water."

"There is no disagreement about the fact that fluorine is a protoplasmic poison."

"Since nerve function is not completely independent of the influence of calcium exchange, and since the intake of fluorine, in turn, has some influence upon the utilization of calcium, it would seem that there is a good theoretical basis for instituting upon some study of the role of fluorides from the neurologists' viewpoint."

"Fluorides are violent poisons to all living tissue because of their precipitation of calcium."

"They cause fall of blood pressure, respiratory failure, and general paralysis." "Since all living processes occur in matter in the colloidal state, many pathological conditions, even probably insanity, results directly from disturbance of the colloidal state."

"It is an established fact that the fluorides cause breaking down of protein and disturb the colloidal state."

"To me it is unthinkable that the Public Health Service should recommend universal medication of water for everyone."

"I have repeatedly produced clear and conclusive evidence that proves fluorine can and does play an important part in promoting the first stage of cancer and in accelerating the second stage."