The purpose of the review is to compare the existing experimental data on total cross sections and also the differential cross sections for elastic and inelastic scattering of fast particles by deuterons with theoretical predictions based on a diffraction model of the interaction. A detailed discussion is given of corrections to the total cross sections arising as the result of inelastic screening, i.e., taking into account the possibility of diffraction excitation of the incident particle by the first nucleon, as a result of which a shower is formed which subsequently is absorbed in the second nucleon. A summary is presented of values of the parameter $\langle R^{-2}\rangle$ obtained from the total cross sections for $\pi d$ and $\bar{p}d$ scattering at energies from 2 to 60 BeV. It is shown that the comparison of theoretical angular distributions with the experimental data on $\pi d$, $pd$, and $\bar{p}d$ scattering indicates that the theory correctly reproduces the main characteristics of elastic scattering. Discrepancies are observed only for very large momentum transfers (greater than 1 BeV/c). A satisfactory description is also given of pd scattering with breakup of the deuteron, in which a characteristic qualitative feature is observed–a peak corresponding to double scattering of the incident particle by the nucleons of the deuteron. In the concluding chapter the main premises of the Glauber theory are discussed, the diagram approach is briefly described, and on its basis an estimate is made of the accuracy of the theory.