HTML - Weirdest Error Ever, Serious Help Needed. (ie)

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_DNUMBER in /home/a6989956/public_html/include/database.php on line 24

class MySQLDB
{
   var $connection;         //The MySQL database connection
   var $num_active_users;   //Number of active users viewing site
   var $num_active_guests;  //Number of active guests viewing site
   var $num_members;        //Number of signed-up users
   /* Note: call getNumMembers() to access $num_members! */

   /* Class constructor */
   function MySQLDB(){
      /* Make connection to database */
      $this->connection = mysql_connect(hostname, username, ********) or die(mysql_error());
      mysql_select_db(database, $this->connection) or die(mysql_error());
      
      /**
       * Only query database to find out number of members
       * when getNumMembers() is called for the first time,
       * until then, default value set.
       */
      $this->num_members = -1;
      
      if(TRACK_VISITORS){
         /* Calculate number of users at site */
         $this->calcNumActiveUsers();
      
         /* Calculate number of guests at site */
         $this->calcNumActiveGuests();
      }
   }

$this->connection = mysql_connect(hostname, username, ********) or die(mysql_error());
      mysql_select_db(database, $this->connection) or die(mysql_error());