View report page

5
The climate of Homsey is mote bracing and cold than that
of London, and it is generally regarded as healthy. The fact
that there are no flat and low-lying areas but that the ground is
generally undulating or hilly makes the district relatively dry,
although the subsoil is a clay.
With the exception of a small stream, the Moselle, which
gives its name to Muswell Hill, there are no natural rivers or
streams in the district. The New River passes through parts of
Haringey and Hornsey.
There are two hospitals in the district—the Hornsey Cottage
Hospital and the Borough Isolation Hospital. The Royal
Northern Hospital is close to the Borough, and considerable use
is made by our inhabitants of that excellent institution.
There are many voluntary workers who are engaged in helping
in the public health work of our Borough. Especially valuable
work is done among the mothers and young children by the
voluntary workers at our Maternity and Child Welfare Centres;
and in the schools and among the older children by the Care
Committees. The Hornsey Council of Social Welfare is engaged
in work which should be of public service. Too great a stress
cannot be laid upon the value of voluntary work both as regards
its practical effects and its educative value. It is not possible to
make people healthy and therefore happy by Acts of Parliament
or by the employment of a crowd of officials, unless the people
themselves really wish to be directed into the ways of health.
The greatest public health need at the present time is for the
education of the public in health matters, so that, in the words
of Sir George Newman, "the assent of the community may be
won for sanitary reform and its consent secured for sanitary
government Communal hygiene can only become an
expression of the national life if the people consent and are willing
to advocate and to carry out its reform." This valuable public
health work done by voluntary workers is an evidence to-day that
the people themselves are taking an interest in matters of health
and well-being, and this newly-awakened interest should be encouraged
by all possible means.