EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-12753) of Allegiance Corporation of our report dated January 26, 1998 appearing in the Annual Report to Stockholders which is incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also consent to the incorporation by reference of our report on the Financial Statement Schedule, which appears in this Form 10-K. Price Waterhouse LLP Chicago, Illinois March 13, 1998