It has come to our knowledge from conversation with college officers that so far this year there has been practiclly no serious illness among the students and this speaks remarkably well, it seems to us, for the conditions of life which surround the students here in Cambridge. But there is not the same state of health in all the cities about us. In Boston there are at present several cases of smallpox, and one is reported in Somerville, and there is more or less of it all over the country. Just at this time, when college is about to close for the Christmas recess, and men will be leaving Cambridge for all parts of the country, it will be well to take extra preoaution that no contagious disease be brought back here from other places. There is a possibility of an epidemic of small-pox this winter and it is very important that every man here should be vaccinated immediately if he has not been vaccinated within two or three years. It is pretty generally accepted among medical men that vaccination does not render a man proof against the disease for more than five years and by some it is claimed that it is good for only three. However this may be, every man who has not been vaccinated recently should see to the matter at once. There is great danger of contracting disease in hot, closed cars and this is precisely where hundreds of the students will be in the next week. It must be clearly understood that this is not a warning based on any present danger; as we have said there is a remarkable state of good health prevalent here. We only hope to say a timely word for the sake of asssuring as fortunate a state of affairs for the rest of the winter and in saying this word we have the endorsement of the authorities.