<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ABBOTT
LABORATORIES' 1997 FIRST QUARTER FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q FILING.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                         134,093
<SECURITIES>                                    18,138
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,891,897
<ALLOWANCES>                                   160,700
<INVENTORY>                                  1,199,715
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             4,627,438
<PP&E>                                       8,355,593
<DEPRECIATION>                               3,932,048
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,200,394
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        4,377,610
<BONDS>                                        931,227
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       741,200
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,114,968
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                11,200,394
<SALES>                                      2,999,814
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,999,814
<CGS>                                        1,327,331
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,327,331
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               280,074<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 9,322
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              32,754
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                758,618
<INCOME-TAX>                                   223,792
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            534,826
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   534,826
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .68
<FN>
<F1>
OTHER EXPENSES CONSIST OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES
</FN>