manifest themselves sooner or later in other parts of the body as well. The addition of fluorides to public water supplies is therefore calculated to lull people into a false sense of security, and to encourage the use of ill-chosen and ill-balanced diets. The advocates of this proposal say that fluorides have no effect on the teeth after they have matured, yet it involves that everyone would have to take fluorides in the water drunk from birth to death. Another strange feature is that the dose of fluoride is arbitrary, depending upon the quantity of water consumed. In both these respects this proposal is contrary to all recognized medical practice. It should be added that there is a great amount of controversy regarding the exact effects which fluorides have on the teeth, and a considerable amount of evidence that fluorides are cumulative poisons. In this connection it should be remarked that not only are fluorides by-products of certain industrial processes, but they are also being employed as insecticides and for other purposes which may bring them into contact with human beings. These risks are therefore added to the risks involved in fluoridation of public water supplies. Although fluoridation was taken up with considerable enthusiasm in the United States owing to official advocacy, it appears to be losing its momentum. In other countries, and especially in Europe, it has been looked upon with suspicion. There is naturally no reason why those who wish to take fluorides should not have them as pills or in other recognized medical preparations. If they were supplied free by the public health authorities, this would be much cheaper than putting fluorides in the public water supplies, of which probably less than one per cent, is used for drinking. This has, in fact, been done in some places. The town of Clifton, New Jersey, for example, finds that the cost is under $500 a year, as compared with nearly $9,000 for fluoridating the water supply. (Further information may be obtained from the Honorary Secretary of the National Pure Water Association, Mrs. Winifred M. Sykes, Thorpe End, Almondbury, Huddersfield—the annual subscription to the Association is 10s.)
Australian Salads. A demonstration of these salads, all Vegan, was given by Mrs. Kathleen Keleny at L.V.S. Headquarters on Friday, April 27th. She tells us that the Teaching Demonstrations she is to give for the Bristol Institute for Further Education will be practically all Vegan. She also informs us that she is running a Week's Residential Course of Vegan Cookery at her Guest House at Coombe Lodge, Wotton-under-Edge (Tel. 3165), Glos., from October 20th—27th. Tuition 2 guineas per week or 8s. 6d. per day. 14