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37
so as to render it liable to damage by frost, it shall be reasonably protected
from such damage.
Fluoridation of Water Supplies. Most of the earlier work on
this subject was carried out in America where quite a proportion of the
water supplies now have fluoride added to them. The United Kingdom
Commission reported their findings of what was being done there in 1953.
More recently the practice has become widespread. Whenever an enquiry
is held into the subject, the findings are that fluoridation, while diminishing
the incidence of caries in those taking the treated water, causes no illeffects
and has no disadvantages.
On evidence based on hundreds of controlled programmes in
seventeen countries, some of which have been in progress for more than
twelve years, the decision of the Committee on Water Fluoridation called
together by the World Health Organisation in 1957, was that "the effectiveness,
safety and practicability of fluoridation as a means of preventing
dental caries, one of the most prevalent and widespread diseases of the
world, is now established. The prevalence of dental caries in the
permanent teeth decreased by 60 per cent., in the milk teeth by 50-60 per
cent.; and in adults the prevalence of caries was only one-third as much
as in similar groups in fluoride-free areas. (This effect on the teeth of
adults would be due to exposure to fluoride during the time of tooth
formation.) The results demonstrated that the use of drinking water
containing one part per million fluoride produced identical dental and
general effects whether the fluoride occurs naturally or is added by
mechanical means."
Last year the Commission of Inquiry on the Fluoridation of Public
Water Supplies in New Zealand published its report. Their findings, too,
point to the advantages of the process in reducing the incidence of dental
caries, and is also reassuring about the absence of ill-effects. Part of the
opposition to the process is based on the alleged interference with the
rights of the individual. On this point the report says: " The issue concerning
rights of individuals has practical importance only after a decision
is made—(1) that fluoridation is a desirable process, (2) that the benefits
of fluoridation cannot effectively be made available by alternative means,
and (3) that it is completely safe. Since it accepted these three postulates
as proved, it was unable to find itself in favour of any of the objections
based on 'threat to freedom,' and its general conclusion was ' that no
question of personal liberty arises in regard to fluoridation.' "
The present trials in the country are limited to four districts, Andover,
a part of Anglesey, Kilmarnock and Watford. For each of these
fluoridation areas, there is a control area. If the intention is that nothing
further shall be done until these trials have shown that those in this
country can benefit from the drinking water being treated in this way just
as have those in some countries abroad, it may be that public opinion
will make itself felt before this.
The dosage usually recommended is one part per million. The
natural content of the water distributed in this district by the Colne Valley
Water Company varies. That sent into supply from the Company's Ruislip
Common pumping station contains 0.6 to 0.8 p.p.m. That from the
arrow pumping station at Bessborough Road contains about 1.0 p.p.m.;