The first important monograph describing the battered child syndrome was written in 1860 by Ambroise Tardieu, a French forensic physician. Here is a translation of his article, published in the Annales d'hygiene publique et de medecine legale, with the title ''Etude medico-legale sur les sevices et mauvais traitements exerces sur des enfants.'' The first part of his article is entirely translated. A brief summary of the 32 cases report described by Tardieu in the second part of his article is presented.