<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM VALHI, INC.'S
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIODS NOTED BELOW AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  SUCH
SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN RECLASSIFIED TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS OF MEDITE CORPORATION AS DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996             JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                         142,468                 144,669
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  249,645                 258,206
<ALLOWANCES>                                     5,199                   4,698
<INVENTORY>                                    467,842                 373,642
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               872,378                 788,665
<PP&E>                                       1,195,631               1,210,003
<DEPRECIATION>                                 345,163                 359,429
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,495,730               2,417,988
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          598,036                 561,657
<BONDS>                                      1,105,284               1,078,667
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                         1,247                   1,248
<OTHER-SE>                                     265,390                 268,359
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,495,730               2,417,988
<SALES>                                        416,325                 838,957
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               416,325                 838,957
<CGS>                                          307,669                 628,330
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  307,669                 628,330
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   160                   (355)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              28,321                  55,168
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 17,883                  31,723
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,366                  11,307
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              9,196                  15,796
<DISCONTINUED>                                (14,884)                (12,734)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (5,688)                   3,062
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.05)                     .03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0