spectacle in an American college. The "Tech Shows" have been given for the last six years, and have attracted the general interest of the student body. The proceeds are devoted to the needs of the Athletic Association. Over one hundred men take part in these shows.

These items in regard to the social life of students are placed in this report because the general public is disposed to think that there is no so-called "student life" at the Institute of Technology. This opinion is due in great part to the fact that the student body has withdrawn from the intercollegiate football and baseball contests and is therefore not brought so frequently to public notice. The students themselves have recognized that there is not time for the development of teams such as can compete satisfactorily with the large colleges in the East, and have held to track athletics as the most suitable expression of the athletic spirit at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Under the able management of an alumni Advisory Council, track athletics have flourished and gained considerable attention from a large number of students. Cross-country running, fostered by frequent hare-and-hounds runs, has aroused a strong interest, and several sports, such as hockey, basket-ball, fencing, and general indoor athletics, engage the attention of a fairly large number. The gymnasium, totally inadequate to the whole number of students attending the Institute, is, however, quite large enough for those living in the near vicinity of the city proper.

The Technology man is much more social and gregarious in his habits than he was a few years ago. The affairs which receive the most enthusiastic support are those that appear to have the most distinctive and unique character. The Technology man is not inclined to be imitative, but, if he can originate and build up for himself some custom or tradition, he is likely to support it with great fervor. There is a strong, manly quality that influences the tone of the large social gatherings and is indicative of the temperament of the student body.

The room and boarding-house register, consisting of a list of two hundred and thirty houses in Boston and vicinity, was consulted quite generally by new students, and an increasing number availed themselves of accommodations in the immediate suburbs. It may be of interest in this connection to give a brief summary of the residence of the students for the year 1904–05:

Many of those living in the city proper are in houses where four or more students are gathered. Comparatively few are completely isolated from their fellow students. In the case of those who are trying to practise great economy, accommodations are often inadequate and uncomfortable, the surroundings far from improving, and the food insufficient. The total number of such cases, however, is not great, and a few good houses which could accommodate less than a hundred men would probably solve this difficult problem.

The employment bureau has not been so successful in finding professional work for undergraduates during the past year as in previous years. The majority of those who obtained work were obliged to seek it in other fields than those connected with their Institute Courses.

Gymnasium. The attendance at the Gymnasium in the regular classes last year varied from ninety to twenty a day, the average attendance during the first six weeks being sixtyfour, and during the last twelve weeks eighty-six. Over one hundred and twenty-five students have taken regular classwork. Of the whole number receiving instruction, 10 per cent. were fourth-year men, 15 per cent. third-year, 20 per cent. second-year, 30 per cent. first-year men, and 25 per cent. special students. In addition to the students who take regular class-work, about one hundred and fifty men use the

gymnasium irregularly and have lockers there, and the track team uses it during the winter for practice.

At the beginning of the school year one hundred and sixtyfour men received a physical examination in which twentyfour measurements were taken, the different sets of muscles tested by dynamometers, and special attention given to the heart and lungs. A very few students were found to have a slight heart or lung trouble, and these were referred to the Medical Adviser. From these measurements and strength tests an anthropometric chart was plotted for each student. This chart shows clearly what parts of the body are defective in size and development. A second examination was made at the end of the year. This also was plotted on the same chart, and indicates the increase in strength and development during the school year. The Cabot medals for physical improvement were awarded on the basis of these charts and the record of attendance during the year. The Committee of Award consisted of Professor Wendell, Mr. Towne, Mr. G. Defren, and the Dean. Medals were awarded in May, 1904, to J. P. Stow, Jr., '07, F. B. Poole, '05, and J. C. Damon, '04. During the present year it is planned to form a gymnastic team for competition with other college teams, and it is hoped that these contests will add interest and enthusiasm to the routine work.

STATISTICS OF ILLNESS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR

1903-1904.

Fourth-year Class.

There were three hundred and twenty-two students, regular and special, in the fourth-year class. Of these twenty-one were reported ill during the school year 1903-1904. Classified by diseases, there were the following cases: chicken-pox, 2; grippe, 2; malaria, 2; typhoid fever, 3; tonsillitis, 1. There were four cases more trivial in character, and seven in which illness was not specified. One member of this class, Mr. John A. Fremmer, died, Aug. 8, 1904, of peritonitis.

Third-year Class.

The whole number of students in this class was three hundred and eighty-two. Of this number forty-three were reported ill during the school year. Classified by diseases, there were the following cases: appendicitis, 2; grippe, 2; hernia, 1; jaundice, 3; measles, 2; pneumonia, 2; scarlet fever, I; tonsillitis, 2. Seven cases were less important, and twenty-one were not specified. There was one death in this class, that of Mr. G. E. Dunham on January 24, 1904, who died at the Massachusetts General Hospital of pneumonia.

Second-year Class.

The regular and special students in this class numbered four hundred and fifty-eight. Forty-four of these were reported ill during the school year 1903-1904. Classified by diseases, there were the following cases: appendicitis, 3, one of which was treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital; bronchitis, I; congestion of the lungs, 1; grippe, 4; heart trouble, 1; incipient consumption, 1; measles, 2; malaria, 1; mumps, 1; There were nervous trouble, 3; neuralgia, I; water on the knee, I.

ten cases of a less serious nature, and eleven cases in which illness was not specified.

First-year Class.

The first-year class numbered three hundred and forty-eight. Of this Classified by number forty-nine were reported ill during the year. diseases, there were the following cases: appendicitis, 2; chicken-pox, 1; eye trouble, 3; fever, 2; grippe, 3; incipient consumption, 1; jaundice, 1; mastoid operation, 1; measles, 3; mumps, 2; nervous trouble, Five cases were 3; pneumonia, 1; tonsillitis, 6; typhoid fever, 2. unimportant, and the remaining thirteen were not specified.

REPORT OF THE MEDICAL ADVISER.

Office hours have been held in the Peirce Building twice a week throughout the school year. The time set apart for medical visits has been fully utilized, and the work of the Medical Adviser has steadily increased.

Late in the fall of 1903, it was found that more students came for advice at every office hour than could be seen between four and five o'clock, and, in order to provide for this increased number of students, a plan was suggested by the President which has been carried out since the middle of January, 1904. The time of consultation, instead of being limited to one hour, was extended, when necessary, so that each student who came for advice on a given day should get it. The increase in medical work is shown by the fact that in 1903 one hundred and thirty-one men were treated in the second term, and in 1904 two hundred and eleven. This increase required seventeen hours of extra work, or an average of about one-half hour on each occasion. The time spent per day has, naturally, varied. On eight occasions no extra time was needed, and on eight occasions it took an extra hour to see all the students who came for advice. The new plan has proved a satisfactory way to provide for them all.

The following table gives the number of office visits made and the number of students seen. A few figures for the year 1902-1903 are put in for comparison.

All the students seen were men, and, as in previous years, the majority found it necessary to come only once, usually for the treatment of some acute and promptly curable condition. Only four students made more than five visits apiece; two of these were surgical cases requiring frequent dressings, and