<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION FROM FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 FOR CHEMED CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000019584 <NAME> CHEMED CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 131,495 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 39,708 <ALLOWANCES> (2,617) <INVENTORY> 8,706 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 206,619 <PP&E> 84,463 <DEPRECIATION> (34,308) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 495,479 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 135,072 <BONDS> 90,339 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 12,923 <OTHER-SE> 214,314 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 495,479 <SALES> 12,879 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 251,110 <CGS> 8,958 <TOTAL-COSTS> 156,610 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 330 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,476 <INCOME-PRETAX> 21,756 <INCOME-TAX> 8,329 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 13,427 <DISCONTINUED> 13,160 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 26,587 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.65 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.65