Exhibit 23.1


                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



The Board of Directors
Owens & Minor, Inc.:



We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the  registration  statement on
Form S-3 of Owens & Minor, Inc. of our reports dated February 4, 1998,  relating
to the consolidated balance sheets of Owens & Minor, Inc. and subsidiaries as of
December  31,  1997  and  1996,  and  the  related  consolidated  statements  of
operations,  changes in  shareholders'  equity and cash  flows,  and the related
financial  statement  schedule,  for each of the years in the three-year  period
ended December 31, 1997,  which reports are included in the Form 10-K of Owens &
Minor, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1997, incorporated by reference into
the registration  statement.  We also consent to the reference to our firm under
the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.



                                                       /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
                                                       -------------------------


Richmond, Virginia
July 6, 1998