<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains six-month year-to-date summary financial information
extracted from Abbott Laboratories 1997 second quarter Form 10-Q and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such 10Q filing.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                         126,521
<SECURITIES>                                    18,669
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,891,914
<ALLOWANCES>                                   163,245
<INVENTORY>                                  1,263,986
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             4,587,932
<PP&E>                                       8,568,669
<DEPRECIATION>                               4,067,168
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,433,526
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        4,513,758
<BONDS>                                        931,055
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       783,063
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,154,107
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                11,433,526
<SALES>                                      5,900,222
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             5,900,222
<CGS>                                        2,544,374
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,544,374
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               600,222<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                14,755
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              64,142
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,498,376
<INCOME-TAX>                                   442,021
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,056,355
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,056,355
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.34
<FN>
<F1>OTHER EXPENSES CONSIST OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES.
</FN>