The Inquiring Mind
This series of articles, en many different subjects,
results from work by senior students at the school of
journalism at the University of Oregon. Each is a con
densed version of a full-length thesis written as partial
requirement for graduation at the school. '
FLUORIDATION: A
HEVOLUTON IN. THE
NATION'S DENTAL
(HEALTH
t By Sylvia Rawlinson
t The flouridation of public
water supplies is one issue on
the ballot over which few
Americans have remained
apathetically ind ifferent.
Since it appeared before the
yoters in cites of New York
and Wisconsin about a decade
and a half ago, it has evolved
into the most controversial
public health issue since com
pulsory vaccination was ad
vocated. Studies on flourides in con
nection with dental health
were begun by Drs. G. V.
Black and Frederick S. Mc
Kay in 1906 in Colorado
Springs. As it became increas
ingly apparent that the
amount of fluoride in tooth
enamel had a beneficial ef
fect in limiting decay, the
United States Public Health
Service .appointed H. Trend
ley Dean to investigate.
In 1945, Newburgh and
Kingston, New York began
the most extensive public
health experiment ever con
ducted in this country. Kings
ton served as a control city
while Newburgh added so
dium fluoride to the water
supply to bring the fluoride
content up to one part per
million. This level had, ac
cording to all previous find
ings, been both safe and ef
fective in inhibiting decay.
Results of Experiment
- Results of this momentous
10-year experiment indicated
that the addition of one part
fluoride per million parts
water reduced tooth decay by
58 per cent among children
receiving the treated water
from birth to the age of 10.
Furthermore, extensive phys
ical exams conducted
throughout the test revealed
that the fluoride in the water
had caused no medical de-
.- By 1950, the Public Health
Service had approved mass
fluoridation in communities
where the chemical was not
naturally present in the water
supply. Shortly thereafter,
the American Dental associ
ation endorsed ttfe measure.
It was then that the flourida
tion. issue began being buf
Jteted about by public opinion.
."In cities considering the
Addition of fluorides to the
public water supply, the citi
zens were deluged with
pamphlets, fliers and tele
phone calls urging them to
keep this "rat poison" out
of the water. Wherever fluor
idation was a public issue,
the same arguments ap
peared. Four Major Premises
Opponents of fluoridation
Jfjse their arguments on four
major premises: fluorine is a
cumulative poison and ex
perimentation has been in
adequate to warrant mass ac
ceptance, the proposal vio
lates constitutional rights of
the individual, it interferes
with the beliefs of some re
ligious groups and it is a
Communist conspiracy to un
dermine man's nervous sys
tem. No one has denied the fact
that fluorine is poisonous to
man in concentrated dosages.
This is not too valid an ar
gument in view of the fact
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that many chemicals in our
basic diets are poisonous in
quantity - even table salt.
With flourine in water at
one part per million, a person
would have to drink a whole
bathtub of water at one time
in order to observe any ill
effects. And it might be a
real job to discover whether
the volume of water or the
fluorine was responsible for
any reactions.
Cumulative effects also are
insignificant at this level, as
evidenced by the presence of
fluorine in many foods. It
has also been discovered that
the body excretes a large
amount of. the fluorine in
gested within a few hours.
Experimentation
Arguments which assert
the doubt that fluoridation
has not received sufficient ex
perimentation a re invalid
also. Public health officials
have repeatedly asserted that
no other public health meas
ure' has undergone such ex
tensive experimentation be
fore recommendation. They
refer both to the results of
the Newburgh - Kingston 10
year study and to the natural
occurrence of fluorides in the
water supplies of many cities.
The occurrence of brown
staining- or "mottling" of
tooth enamel was observed
only in instances where
fluorides occurred in excess
of the recommended one part
per million.
The charge that fluorida
tion is unconstitutional car
ries little weight. The Su
preme Court has refused to
rule on it at all, maintaining
that it is not a constitutional
issue. Even the charge of
socialized medicine through
"mass medication" is a dram
atization. Fluoridation is left
to the vote of individual com
munities and there has been
no federal ruling on the
measure. In the strictest sense
of the word, fluoride is not
really medication, but rather
a preventative to be used
along with other dental
health precautions.
Sensational Charge
Possibly the most sensa
tional and far-fetched charge
against fluoridation is that
proposed by some who feel
that it represents a Com
m u n i s t conspiracy. This
charge is based on the fact
that fluorine, in poisonous
dosages, acts on man's nerv
ous system to gradually re
duce his reasoning processes.
An enemy could supposedly
dump the stored supply of
sodium fluoride in the water
supply to destroy the inhabi
tants of a city by wholesale
means. This is a highly in
accurate1 and unlikely argu
ment. An enemy would be
most ineffective in choosing
to poison the water with so
dium fluoride. Several tons
would be necessary to pro
vide lethal concentrations,
and storage facilities and
equipment of public water
works -are simply not con
structed to handle such quan
tities of chemicals. Many
other poisons would provide
a more expedient and effec
tive weapon for the purposes
of an enemy.
As a means of bridging all
this opposition, alternative
methods of supplying fluoride
as a dental preventive have
been considered. The ideal
realized how
RUNAWAY TRUCK A heavy grain truck, out of control on a steep hill in Duluth
Mum., smashed three homes as wen as an automobile before coming to a halt The
truck driver, his wife who was with him, and a motorist were killed, and four
other persons were injured.
- " MAIL TRIBUNE, Medford, Or.
J Monday, June 29, 1959
4-H Club News
Can Canners
The monthly meeting of the
Can Canners 4-H club was
held June 17 at the home of
the leader, Mrs. Bagley. A
demonstration on making
grape jelly was given by
Christy Elrod. The next meet
ing will be held July 15.
Judy Bagley,
Reporter.
Buttered Buns
The Buttered Buns met at
the home of Barbara Moore
Tuesday at 2 p.m. Four dem
onstrations were given and
Mrs. Barnes talked about pre
fair and the contest at the
courthouse.
Barbara Moore,
Reporter.
Ruch Appetisers
Our last meeting was held
at Mrs. Kay Straube's. Louie
Barker made a drink made
of mashed strawberries and
milk.
The secretary didn't have
any minutes so she gave roll
call.
We discussed a swimming
party at Twin Plunges.
Mary Ann Barker will bake
a lemon pie and Richard
Bottger will make a drink at
the next meeting July 11 at
Kay Straube's.
Louie Barker,
Reporter.
Reese Creek Renagades
A meet of the Reese Creek
Renagades was held at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. W. C.
Calloway. We judged some
Angus heifers and had a short
quiz. The next meeting club
will be at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Phillips on July 14.
David Calloway,
Reporter.
vehicle for fluoride should be
such that its consumption will
correspond with the capacity
for such intake by the in
dividual. At the same time,
it should be available to the
largest part of the population,
from birth to 10 years of age.
It is a well-known fact among
dental authorities that the
most extensive dental neglect
occurs among low - income
families who are not financ
ially able to secure regular
dental check-ups. They are
also uneducated with respect
to the importance of dental
hygiene.
Alternative Methods
Some alternative methods
of providing fluoride have
been proposed but most of
them, fail to meet the de
mands of the low - income
group. The addition of fluor
ide to foods would require ex
tensive experimentation and
would probably result in ex
tremely unequal consumption
since diets and tastes vary so
among individuals.
Flouride pills have been ef
fective when used, but the
problem which -their use im
poses would be one of educa
tion as to their proper use
and poisonous .aspects if
treated carelessly. -
For maximum benefit,
fluorine should be ingested
at the time of tooth forma
tion and eruption. From all
standpoints, the fluoridation
of public water supplies, at
an average cost of 9 cents per
person per year.is the most
logical vehicle.
The referendum has re
peatedly placed the fluorida
tion issue in the hands of the
voters. They must decide on
a medical and scientific issue
which has entered the politi
cal realm and is subject to
political main pulation by
special interest groups. The
community' considering fluor
idation must be educated
about it. Once people are in
formed about an issue, they
are immune to emotional ap
peals. Meanwhile, another
generation of Americans with
poor teeth is the inevitable
result of a lot of irrational
and irresponsible thinking.
Ike's Policies
Blamed by Demos
For Price Threats
Washington (UPD Demo
crats charged today that the
threat of new price hikes is
caused by President Eisen
hower's policies rather than
any strong congressional pres
sure for "irresponsible spend
ing" cited by a cabinet report.
House Democratic Leader
John W. McCormack (Mass.)
generally summed up his par
ty's reaction to the report by
accusing Eisenhower of try
ing to blame the Democratic
controlled Congress for the
fruits of his own actions.
Budget Cut Promised
"The Congress always has
appropriated less money than
Mr. Eisenhower wanted," Mc
Cormack said. "So if there is
any excessive spending, the
President is responsible." He.
promised Congress would cut
the President's budget again
this year.
The report, prepared, by a
special committee headed by
Vice President Richard M.
Nixon, urged Congress to
thwart a "serious risk" of fur
ther price increases by enact
ing Eisenhower's anti - infla
tion program. It said the coun
try is at a "critical juncture"
because of inflationary pres
sures and congressional senti
ment for reckless spending.
Tax Relief Hinted
The report also hinted that
some form of tax relief "can
perhaps be realized soon." It
did not spell out the kind of
"needed tax reforms," saying
merely, that "studies are now
under way with a view to
proposing changes in our tax
laws at the appropriate time."
Sen. Paul H. Douglas (D
111.), chairman of the Con
gressional Economic Commit
tee which is making its own
study of inflation and other
economic problems, denounc
ed the Nixon group's report
as "a thoroughly milk toast
affair."
He said it ignored the ad-
American Family
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Vending Machine
Future Predicted
New York-(UPD-Vending ma
chines will some day cook full-
course meals in a matter of
seconds and put "automatic
groceries" at the housewife's
door.
So says Robert Z. Greene,
chairman of the executive
committee of the Automatic
Canteen Company of America
and president of the Rowe
Manufacturing Company.
Greene sees the day when
complete meals, kept fresh in
vending machines by refrige
ration or in sealed containers,
may actually be cooked elec
tronically in a few moments
after the coin is inserted.
He also predicts "auto
matic groceries" in multiple
dwellings, which will sell all
kinds of fresh and frozen
foods right at the housewife's
door.
Canadians Solve
Flower Problem
Detroit (UPD Queen Eliza
beth's visit to Canada posted
a floral problem for Canadi
ans that had to be solved by
American experts.
The Canadians wanted to
know what kind of bouquet to
present to the Queen. A Vic
torian nosegay of pink and
red sweetheart roses, lilies of
the valley, white carnations,
narcissus, forget-me-nots and
yellow daisies, replied the
Florists' Telegraph Delivery
Association.
However, a Canadian flor
its had to make up the bou
quet and the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police had to inspect
it well in advance for any
sharp wires or pointed mate
rials that might scratch the
Queen's fingers.
ministration's opposition t o
"sound proposals" for plug
eine tax loopholes which
would have enabled the gov
ernment "to reduce, taxes in
other directions, to make
needed welfare and defense
expenditures and to reduce
the public debt."
Independence
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itr
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Professional Insurance Protection
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Clackamas River Dam
Estacada (UPD The $25
million Northfork dam the
Clackamas river three miles
from here was formally dedi
cated Sunday with about
8,000 persons gathering for
the offficial ceremonies and
an aquatic show on the reser
voir afterward.
. The Portland General Elec
tric Company project adds
54,000 kilowatts to the North
west powe pool. '
Thomas W: Delzell, PGE
chairman of the board, told
the crowd the variable radius
arch dam was. "a monument
to the multiple use of our na
tural resources." The dam.
Quick-frozen chicken, turkey, beef, or tuna
Manor House Pies 4 ' '1.60
Boneless "USDA CHOICE"
Top Sirloin Steak
Grade "A" Turkeys
Plump, tender, mature,
14 to 16 pound hen
turkeys. Here's lots of
good eating at a truly
economical price.
Save More on Your TOTAL Food Dili at Sofaway.
uUH3 Tempest Brand Grated Turn . i0j00
IPorE & Beans v. c.mp,7.lk . . I
Kfipe Doves " . 3 $&9
Tomato Soup
GleaiKPr White Mafic
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flharrnal Neet Heet
UlldlCUdl lighter included
Fig Bars
Vanilla flavor
Lfftnl A III Refreshing drink
HUUI Mill Assorted flavors
French Fries 'S2?.nt
P0fa0 PallieSHri
Rroarf Save 2c on Mrs- Wright's
UlCdll white or wheat
Rye Bread ETk
Buttermilk .
Grape Drink
Gigareftes JSSSr
Modess Broil Foil
Sanitary Napkins Kaiser "quilted"
2 89 Jr 45
For f he FINEST Produce . . .
FANCY 'PEACHES
Delicious tree-ripened
uicy, flavorful, lightly
PLUMS
Famous Santa Rosa
variety; tart sweetness.
Dedicated
207 feet high and only eight
feet through at the crest, is
reported to be the thinnest
for its height in the world.
Northfork is designed to
"give" in the middle with the
force of the river, thereby
allowing firmer extension of
its sides into the anchorages
of the canyon wall.
SOCIALIST HEAD DIES
; Brussels, Belgium - Max
Buset, 63, president of the
Belgian Socialist Party, died
Sunday. In 1950 he headed a
Socialist campaign which led
to the abdication of King
Leopold III.
scientifically aged beef
$
1.29
lb.
ib. 35
Campbell's. -A
lunch time favorite!
14-oz.
25e
39e
28-oz. pkg.
l ib. pkg. 20C
6 Pki. 29c
16-oz. pkg. 35c
12-oz. pkg.
350
large loaf
3lc
l-lb. loaf 28C
21c
65c
$1.85
ctn. teg. size
California Red Havens. Yeu'll
colored peaches. Take home a
CUCUMBERS
,19'
Crisp, smooth skinned.
4 for 19c
Price in this advertiiement are effective through Tuesday, June 29 at
We reserve the right te limit. No sales to dealers.
mm
FIM STRIKE! .
Lowestoft, England - Ml -Two
Dutch salvage vesttlt
put out a fire in the holdg
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Staniel on a touriat - filled
Select Quality Crew, fir gift?
Heaping Dowbia Ue4 - 1Vt
lest Weod DwaVeM Kwl
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SP 1-1111 Cea ft MeAatef
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Candi Can
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Brocade
Light duty mild detergent
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Party Pride
Centennial Vanilla, Choc.
Chip Almond, Choc. Marsh
mallow, Neapolitan, Vanilla,
Maple Nut, Banana Nut ...
A variety for every taste!
usf remomber Safeway!
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enjoy these
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5
Golden
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each
feetclfc - The Dutch
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BANANAS
- ripe;
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2 ibs. 35
Safeway in Mefe4
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49
79: