FLUORINE IN PPM PERCENT FLUORINE IN ASH. FIGURE 8 FLUORINE CONTENT OF URINE IN RELATION TO GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN IPPMF AS No F MOLAR TEETH 0.16 0.12 0.08 0.04 0.04 EXPERIMENTAL CONTROL TABLE 1.-Incidence of abnormal clinical findings, 1943-53 1 Bone changes determined by simultaneous reading of identical views of X-rays taken in 194 3and repeated in 1953. 2 Bartlett: 4 increased density, 3 decreased density. Cameron: 2 increased density. TABLE 2.-Prevalence of abnormal laboratory and dental findings, 1943 and 1953 [Participants residing in study area for the 10-year period] Mr. HALE. Thank you very much, gentlemen. Are there questions? We will place in the record at this point a letter of May 27, 1954, from Congressman Hoffman. (The letter referred to is as follows:) CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., May 27, 1954. Hon. CHARLES A. WOLVERTON, Chairman, Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, MY DEAR COLLEAGUE: As I have indicated to you before, I am opposed to the limitation which H. R. 2341 would impose on the power of local communities to fluoridate water. The supporters of H. R. 2341 have made frequent use of the phrase, “illegal mass medication." The use of the phrase implies that all mass medication is illegal, but that is not correct because it is, of course, legal to require all citizens to be vaccinated against smallpox. Perhaps the proponents of H. R. 2341 mean that some forms of mass medication, such as vaccination, are legal, but that fluoridation of the water supply is not. Even this conclusion is incorrect, since States and cities have the right and duty to safeguard the people's health. Any steps they may take to do so are lawful provided they are not clearly arbitrary or irrational. When the American Medical Association and the American Dental Association, as well as recognized local professional groups and research organizations, unanimously state the fluoridation is useful in preventing dental decay, that no harm is to be expected from employing it, and supply evidence in support of their opinions no community can be accused of being arbitrary or irrational if they approve fluoridation of their water supply. I firmly believe that the Federal Government should not interfere with State or local action in this matter, and for that reason, I am opposed to the passage of H. R. 2341. With kindest personal regards, RICHARD W. HOFFMAN, M. C. Mr. PELLY. Dr. Knutson, would you tell how the charts were adjusted on account of sex, age, and race? Those various charts that were shown? Dr. KNUTSON. For the deaths? Mr. PELLY. Yes, the mortality rate. Dr. KNUTSON. That is done, Mr. Congressman, in order to take care of the differences in the ages of people in different communities. So when we say age-adjusted, that means that the calculations of the death rates are based on the given age categories of the individuals in the communities. In one community you may have a relatively young population; in another a relatively old population. If you did not adjust for age, you would come out with an incorrect conclusion. Mr. PELLY. How about race, and also sex. Dr. KNUTSON. Yes, those are also adjusted for, because there are differences. Mr. PELLY. Women live normally longer than men? Dr. KNUTSON. Yes. Mr. PELLY. It must have been quite an adjustment. Dr. KNUTSON. Yes, it is. It is a routine procedure in vital statistics to adjust for those factors. Mr. PELLY. Doctor, would you state for the record the date when the policy of the Public Health Service was first decided upon to promote fluoridation on the local level? |