The purposes of this study were: (1) to describe the prevailing way of life of Americans of Mexican descent who lived in a small city in the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas during the period from August, 1957, to August, 1959; (2) to discuss the manner in which these Mexican Americans coped with health problems; and (3) to explain the anxiety and disaffection which seemed to characterize the Mexican Americans studied. Information was gathered by use of participant observation, key informants, and open-ended questionnaires. The book is divided into 3 major sections, identified by the following topical headings: (1) description and contrast of the Mexican American nd the Anglo American sections of the city, including historical background information about the city; (2) escription of the social relations of the Mexican American population of the city; (3) comparative analysis of perceptions of Mexican American social relations. (VM)