The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-24
DR.. {. {. LEVY HANDS
IN RESIGNATION As
CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER
Council Failing tn Provide Fund
Deemed adequate For Department,
He Quits once.
HAS SERVED CITY
WITH NOTABLE SUCCESS
Has Made Work Here Model Which
Has Brought Richmond Desirable
Ndvert i~.ment--Will Leave City IN
short Time For New York.

Dr T.. e. Levy yesterday resigned
his position as chief health officer of
the city, his resignation to take effect
in the near future He returned yes
terdav from New York, where he ac-
cepted a position with the North Pub
lie Health bureau, and will be asso-
ciated with DIR. r. G. North. one OF
the leading health authorities in the
United States,
Action Of Dr. Levy followed the fail
ure Of the city council to increase his
salary and to furnish more funds for
the naintene nee of his department
After building up the heath depart
ment 10 It's present nigh state of eff
cheney. pr Lew declared hat he was
unwilling to see his work crumhling
before his eyes TOR lack Of money and
al the same time see the health of a
city endarS ered because Of the absence
Of means for preventing disease. This
consideration rather than that of his
own salary vas the moving ia tor IN
his retirap}ant.-
The chief health officer who Is we'll
known throughout the United States as
an authority in his subject, and whose
record in the Richmond health depart
ment has become widely known in this
and Other countries. urged repeatedly
that more money be appropriated for
the maintenance of his work, and a
short time ago told the finance COM
mittee he could not remain in the city's
service unless he was given more
means with which 10 conduct his poll
cies The new budget did not provide
for him as he requested. and in re-
Spouse to a telegram "Wednesday from
DR.. North, in New York, DR.. Levy
went there accepting the offer made
him by the North bureau.
In Health Work Many Years.
The retiring officer has been at the
head of the city health department
since its beginning eleven years ago.
AS far back as 1899 he was connected
with health work in this city. and was
at one time professor Of baeteriology
In the medical college here. Becom-
ing deeply interested in this work, he
went to the Massachusetts, Institute of
Technology. at Boston, to continue his
studies.
In 1904 he came back and began
his official connection with the city's
health situation. One of his first la
bors was to install the first lahora-
tory at the pumphouse. and to lay the
beginning of one of the purest water
systems in this country In 1905. when
the city department of bacterioiogy
was founded. he took charge of this
work in connection with his other
duties.
When the health board was reor-
ganized in 1905, DIR. Levy was made
chief health officer, and began build
ing up the department to its present
nationwide standing among the fore
most Among the most notable
achievements of the department in
these years Is the perfecting of the
dairy inspection and placing Richmond
dairy operation on basis that has
been copied not only in the United
States. but in many foreign countries.
Relieved Typhoid situation.
When DR.. Levy came into the de-
partment the typhoid fever menace
was widespread in the city. In the
five years before his coming, the death
rate from this malady was Il per
100 900 population. The first Ave years
of his work brought the rate down
to 40.5, and during the last Ave years
the rate has been IL.