A daily look at some of The News & Observer headlines on this date in past years.
In 1951, Raleigh City Manager H.W. Carper announced that he and Director of Public Utilities E.M. Johnson had decided to look into the advisability of adding fluoride to the city’s water supply.
The State Board of Health had recommended the chemicals as a means of preventing tooth decay. Dr. Earnest A. Branch told the City Council that fluorides were harmless, odorless and tasteless. “All I’m interested in is preventing this,” he said as he placed an “exact replica” of a child’s teeth on the council table. The teeth, The N&O reported, were yellow and pitted with cavities.
The council told Carper and Johnson to meet with the board of health and return with a recommendation…