Forty cases of surgical jaundice in the newborn and infancy period have been reviewed from which the following conclusions seem justified: 1. The predominant cause is atresia of the biliary ducts, either extrahepatic or intrahepatic. 2. The only liver function test of use in differentiating hepato-cellular jaundice from obstructive jaundice is the total bilirubin which declines or is irregular in the former and rises steadily and uninterruptedly in obstruction. 3. Liver biopsy is of value in confirming operative findings and giving some measure of prognosis based on the amount of hepatic damage. 4. The end results are discouraging, with 10 per cent operability and 68 per cent overall mortality in the whole series of those operated. 5. After medical causes have been eliminated, exploratory laparotomy should be carried out.