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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 21, 1998




                           THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC.

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                                       
          Delaware                       1-8597                         94-2657368
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     of incorporation)



        6140 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 590, Pleasanton, California 94588
                   (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (925) 460-3600
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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ITEM 5. Other Events.

On October 21, 1998, The Cooper Companies, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press
release announcing its intent to divest certain businesses of Hospital Group of
America to Universal Health Services, Inc. This release is filed as an exhibit
hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.


ITEM 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.



Exhibit
  No.     Description
- -------   -----------
       
99.1      Press Release dated October 21, 1998 of The Cooper Companies, Inc.





                                    SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                          THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC.



                                          By   /s/ Stephen C. Whiteford
                                             --------------------------
                                             Stephen C. Whiteford
                                             Vice President and
                                             Corporate Controller
                                             (Principal Accounting Officer)

Dated:  October 23, 1998




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX





Exhibit                                                            Sequentially
  No.     Description                                              Numbered Page
- -------   -----------                                              -------------
                                                             
99.1      Press Release dated October 21, 1998 of The Cooper
          Companies, Inc.