Exhibit 23.1


           Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


The Board of Directors of C. R. Bard, Inc.:

We consent to the use of our report dated February 18, 2004, with respect to
the consolidated balance sheets of C. R. Bard, Inc. and subsidiaries as of
December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of income,
stockholders' investment, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the
related consolidated financial statement schedule, incorporated herein by
reference in the post-effective amendment to the registration statement on
Form S-8 dated June 3, 2004.

Our report dated February 18, 2004 contains an explanatory paragraph relating
to the fact that the consolidated financial statements of C. R. Bard, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and for the year then ended were audited
by other auditors who have ceased operations. As described in Note 4 to the
consolidated financial statements, those consolidated financial statements
have been revised to include the transitional disclosures required by
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets, which was adopted by C. R. Bard, Inc. as of January 1,
2002. However, we were not engaged to audit, review, or apply any procedures
to the 2001 consolidated financial statements other than with respect to such
disclosures and, accordingly, we do not express an opinion or any other form
of assurance on the 2001 consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.


/s/ KPMG LLP


Short Hills, New Jersey
June 3, 2004