Fibrocystic disease of the pancreas, a chronic debilitation of infancy and early life, is characterized by disordered pancreatic function and chronic infections of the lung. It has been a fascinating enigma for investigators ever since it was first described about two decades ago. This book is a copy of the transactions of the 18th Ross Pediatric Research Conference, which was held under the auspices of the Department of Pediatrics of the State University of Iowa, College of Medicine, at Iowa City, Sept. 30, 1955. Emphasis on genetics, embryology, endocrine function, particularly in fetal life, and the numerous disorders of various organ systems are discussed thoughtfully and in detail. Unfortunately, even the nature of the disease seems to have eluded physicians so far, though the nearest clue suggests that it is an example of an inborn error of metabolism. But whether one function or many simultaneously are disturbed is not clear.