“In a 55-yr-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 the urine exceeded
intake; the arthritic pains diminished and virtually ceased in 6 mo; mobility of her spine was
restored and she was able to resume work. Arthritis of the spine of unknown cause might
represent subclinical fluorisis which is not demonstrable radiologically.”