EXHIBIT 99.1


                        PROXY FOR HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK
                              THE LEHIGH GROUP INC.
           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                  SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS -- [ ,] 1997

         The undersigned hereby appoints Salvatore J. Zizza and Robert A. Bruno,
and each of them,  proxies of the undersigned with full power of substitution to
vote all of the  undersigned's  Common  Stock,  par value $ .001 per  share,  as
indicated hereon, of THE LEHIGH GROUP INC.  ("Lehigh") at the Special Meeting of
Stockholders to be held [ , ,] 1997 in the [ ] and at any adjournments  thereof,
upon all matters  that may  properly  come  before the  Meeting,  including  the
matters  described in the Proxy  Statement  furnished  herewith,  subject to the
directions indicated below:

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR:

1.       The merger of Lehigh Management  Corp., into First Medical  Corporation
         and the  amendment  of the Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of
         Lehigh to provide for "blank check" preferred stock.


         FOR /  /               AGAINST /   /           ABSTAIN /   /

2.       The approval of the following amendments to the Restated Certificate of
         Incorporation and By-laws of Lehigh:

   A.    Changing  the name of the  Corporation  from "The Lehigh Group Inc." to
         "First Medical Group, Inc."

   B.    To eliminate cumulative voting for the election of directors.

   C.    To eliminate action by stockholders by written consent.

   D.    To provide that the number of directors  comprising the entire Board of
         Directors  of Lehigh be not less than  seven nor more than  eleven,  as
         determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

   E.    Requiring any further  amendments to the provisions of the  Certificate
         of Incorporation addressed by parts (B) through (E) to require the vote
         of the  holders  of at least  80% of the  outstanding  shares of Lehigh
         common  stock.

         FOR /  /               AGAINST /   /           ABSTAIN /   /

3.       ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

         /    /     FOR all  Director  nominees,  pro  rata  (or in  such  other
proportions as the proxy holders may determine in their sole discretion).



         /   /      CUMULATE my votes as follows (insert number of votes*)


                    -------------------------    Salvatore J. Zizza

                    -------------------------    Dennis A. Sokol

                    -------------------------    Charles J. Pendola

                    -------------------------    Melvin E. Levinson

                    -------------------------    Elliot H. Cole

                    -------------------------    Paul Murphy

                    -------------------------    Alain Lellouche


                  * NOTE:       The number of votes is equal to the
                                total number of shares of Common
                                Stock to be voted, multiplied by seven.

         /   /             WITHHOLD my vote.

4.       The ratification of the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP, as independent
         auditors of Lehigh for the year ending December 31, 1996.

         FOR /  /               AGAINST /   /           ABSTAIN /   /

5.       The  transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
         meeting.

PLEASE CHECK IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING      /    /

               THE SHARES  REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS
1,  2,  3 AND 4,  IF NO  INSTRUCTION  TO  THE  CONTRARY  IS  INDICATED  OR IF NO
INSTRUCTION IS GIVEN.

               All as set forth in the Proxy  Statement for this Special Meeting
               of Stockholders.

               Dated ________________________________________, 1997

               _______________________________________________ (L.S.)

               _______________________________________________ (L.S.)
                           Signature of Stockholder(s)

                           Please sign your name as it appears on this Proxy. If
                           executed by a corporation a duly  authorized  officer
                           should sign. Partners, executors, trustees, guardians
                           or  attorneys  should so indicate  when  signing.  If
                           shares are held jointly, EACH holder should sign.