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SANTA CLAUS HOME FOR SICK CHILDREN
The Santa Claus Home for Sick Children, 55 Cholmeley Park,
Highgate was opened in 1891 and from that time until 13th February,
1954, provided accommodation for convalescent children. The Misses
Charles founded the Santa Claus Society in 1885 to provide toys for
children in hospitals at Christmas time. The premises in Cholmeley
Park were obtained in 1891 for the purpose of admitting children who,
although not actually ill or receiving treatment, would benefit from skilled
care and nursing attention. Later the Home was extended to provide
play-rooms and other amenities for the children, and also accommodation
for the resident staff. The demand for accommodation decreased
of recent years and it became uneconomic to keep the Home open.
The building was taken over by the London County Council and opened
as a Hostel for Tuberculous men in September last.
VETERINARY INSPECTIONS
Mr. F. G. Buxton, m.r.c.v.s. the Veterinary Inspector has kindly
supplied me with details of his work in the Borough under the Contagious
Diseases of Animals Act and Orders, and the Pet Animals Act, 1951:—
No licences were issued under the Contagious Disease of Animals
Acts. Three inspections were made under these Acts at Highgate
School Piggeries (Total 21 Porkers).
Four inspections were made under the Pet Animals Act, 1951.
2 at Pet Shop—St. James's Lane,
2 at Pet Shop—1 Clissold Cottages, Fortis Green.
Four inspections were carried out under the Fowl Pest Orders, 1936
& 1947, making a total of 24 fowls. These were not confirmed by the
Ministry as having Fowl Pest.
No action was necessary under the Tuberculosis Order of 1925.
WELFARE OF OLD PEOPLE
I would like to say a few words about what is often called the
"problem" of old people. It is sometimes thought that the aged are
more neglected now than in the past when all was supposed to be well.
This is not so. The "problem" is one of numbers, i.e., the increasing
proportion of aged in the community, and not of social outlook which
is much improved of recent years. The public now are not only willing
to hear of the difficulties of old people but in the main they make every
effort to search them out and assist as far as they are able. The excellent
work done by the Old People's Welfare Committees and their helpers
is an example of this. There are cases of old people being neglected by
their children but these are not really common; the truth is that families
are smaller and a quarter of the old have no children at all.
Generally speaking only the "difficult" cases are referred to the Health
Department, and once more, I must record a considerable increase in
the time spent by the staff in dealing with these. It is unfortunate that
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