[en] Results of analytic S-matrix theory, mainly dealing with the static limit of dispersion relations, are applied to pion-nucleon scattering in the low-energy region. Various approaches to solving equations of the chew-Low type are discussed. It is concluded that interesting results are obtained by reducing the equations to a system of nonlinear difference equations; the crucial element of this approach being the study of functions on the whole Riemann surface. Boundary and crossing symmetry conditions are studied. (HFdV)