THE FIRST SERIOUS MEDICAL STUDY OF CHILD ABUSE WAS MADE IN 1946. FOLLOWUP WORK BY DOCTORS AND SOCIAL SCIENTISTS IS TRACED THROUGH THE 1950'S AND 1960'S. THE PURPOSE OF REPORTING LAWS IS EXAMINED, AND STATES WITH REPORTING LAWS ARE SURVEYED. DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH THE DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY BORDERLINE CASES. MOST STATE LAWS ATTEMPT TO DEFINE ABUSE IN TERMS OF THE NATURE OF THE INJURY. SOME LAWS INCORPORATE SEXUAL ABUSE INTO THE DEFINITION OF CHILD ABUSE. VARIATIONS IN UPPER AGE LIMITS FOR REPORTABLE CASES ARE EXAMINED. THE VAGUE STATUATORY STANDARDS INVOLVING NEGLECT ARE DISCUSSED WITH EXAMPLES PROVIDED, AND THE EXTREMELY CLOUDY AREA OF EMOTIONAL NEGLECT IS COVERED. THE DETAILS OF VARIOUS MANDATORY REPORTING LAWS ARE SUMMARIZED IN TERMS OF WHO MUST REPORT, FORM OF THE REPORT, DISPOSITION OF THE REPORT, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTRAL REGISTRIES. THE HARM WHICH CAN BE DONE BY MANDATORY REPORTING IS EXAMINED, AND LEGAL SAFEGUARDS WHICH SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO REPORTING STATUTES ARE SUGGESTED. FOOTNOTES CONTAIN 199 REFERENCES. (GLR)