<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS NINE-MONTH YEAR-TO-DATE SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
EXTRACTED FROM ABBOTT LABORATORIES 1996 THIRD QUARTER FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 10Q FILING.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         139,896
<SECURITIES>                                    39,274
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,700,153
<ALLOWANCES>                                   150,415
<INVENTORY>                                  1,224,705
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             4,273,851
<PP&E>                                       8,242,116
<DEPRECIATION>                               3,839,638
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,669,342
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        4,287,888
<BONDS>                                        682,166
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       659,274
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,054,696
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                10,669,342
<SALES>                                      8,017,611
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             8,017,611
<CGS>                                        3,477,411
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                3,477,411
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               852,432<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                23,999
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              68,030
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,945,275
<INCOME-TAX>                                   573,856
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,371,419
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,371,419
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.73
<FN>
<F1>OTHER EXPENSES CONSIST OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES.
</FN>