Abstract
In a 55 year-old woman with long-standing arthritis, but no obvious signs of fluorosis, X-rays exhibited degeneration of discs and calcification in disc spaces. Her daily fluoride intake, mainly from tea, exceeded 9 mg; her daily urinary excretion was 3 mg. When she discontinued consuming tea, her fluoride intake fell below 1 mg daily; excretion through urine exceeded intake; the arthritic pains diminished and virtually ceased in 6 months; mobility of her spine was restored and she was able to resume work. These observations suggest that arthritis of the spine of unknown cause might represent sub-clinical fluorosis which is not demonstrable radiologically.