The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-05-19
CREEVE'S LEAVING
Loss TO FLORIDA
Resignation. Of. State Health. Officer
Effective June 5.

JACKSONVILLE. May 18.-(SpeciaD-
With the resignation OF DR.. Ralph y
Greene as state health officer OF the
Florida state board of health, which be-
comes effective on June S, those famihar
with the. constructive efforts and accom-
plishments of the head of the health oe-
partment feel that his action means
decided loss to the entire state, in tnat
during his entire tenure of office his uH-
firing efforts and absolute honesty q
purpose has gained for him the universal
cooperation OF physicians throughout the
commonwealth as well as in the govern
ment health departments in Washington.
Prior to his accepting the position OF
state health officer. DR.. Greene was
practicing physician in Florida, and IN
1909 was appointed assistant physician at
the Florida state hospital, being promo
ted at the end of one year to ch1e1 OF
the medical staff, occupying this posi-
ton for six and one-haf years. At the
outbreak Of trouble in Mexico, DIR. Greene
resigned from the state hospital and &C
copied commission in the First Flor1-
da field hospital Of the Florida national
guard under DIR. Major Raymond Turck,
serving for eight months with the troops
on the Rio Grande, during which time he
made extensive observations at the re-
quest of the commanding general OF the
southern department of the army as to
the effect of flying upon the human sys-
tenn. and numerous flights at high alti-
tudes were made, the results being pub
lished in the Military Surgeon, becoming
a part of the standard literature on the
subject
Returning from the border, DR.. Greene
was elected president of the Florida
Medical association and practiced medi-
cine in Jacksonville for short while and
again entered the army medical service
at the beginning of the world war, with
the rank of major, serving throughout
the emergency. At the time of his dis
charge he had charge of all nervous
and mental work for the southern de-
partment of the United States army and
was discharged in order to accept the
position of state health officer.
Some of the principal features of DR..
.Greene's regime are: The bringing about
OF complete coordination of the differ
emit departments; Capitalization of adj
ministration: the purchasing of all sup
plies in quantities and on a competitive
basis thus affording distinct economy;
increasing of field activities yet with a
much reduced personnel; Perry anti-ma-
larial work undertaken in spite of adj
verse criticism of experts who declared it
could not be successfully accomplished;
active campaign against social diseases
resulting in higher efficiency Of labor, i'm
proved conditions in rural districts; con-
Quoted industrial survey in many mills,
mines and factories, resulting in ground
work being laid for elimination of risk
habbards with consequent contentment
and minimized labor turnover; three adj
ditional diagnostic laboratories opened,
saving time for the people of the state;
first state to adopt state railway SAM
tary code; first state to adopt consruc-
tive program for auto camps; successfully
dealt with bubonic plague in Pensacola
confirming disease to that city and estab-
Hshed respect for rat proofing never be-
fore eQualled; strict compliance with the
law providing that all death and birth
records shall be kept in bound volumes
in fire proof vaults; preliminary steps
taken towards development of child well
fare department cooperating with the
U. s. p. III. s.; during his tenure of of
flee every call has been answered; every
emergency met and all bills paid; all ma
teriaI property put in order; new building
erected at West Palm Beach. 1t is esti-.
mated that there will be in the state
treasury to the credit of the department
over $4,000 at the time of his retire-
ment. During his term of office over
100000 has been spent of state moneys,
but for every dollar of Florida money,
he has made it possible to secure an
equal amount from other sources.
Or. Greene's successor has not been
named as yet, but whoever he is, ply
sicians and the public generally sincerely
hope that he will continue the construc-
tive work laid out by DIR. Greene. In
speaking of his retiring to practice his
profession, DR.. Greene states that he will
be at all times at the command of the