Abstract

Presented are 20 cases of Southwestern American Indians having characteristic sclerotic bone changes caused by the ingestion of drinking water containing excessively great quantities of fluoride salts. The changes of skeletal fluorosis are described, and it is pointed out that the degree of change does not seem to correlate well with the concentration of fluoride in the bone. It remains an enigma that there is such variability in the degree of the manifestations among people exposed to the same supply of drinking water,m but it is pointed out that factors such as climate, nutritional status, and habit variations may be responsible. It is concluded that skeletal fluorosis produces no demonstrable physiologic adversities, but it is important to differentiate from serious pathologic conditions which it may stimulate.

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