<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 491,600 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 765,900 <F1> <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 415,300 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,287,600 <F2> <PP&E> 3,262,000 <DEPRECIATION> 1,428,400 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,346,800 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,828,000 <BONDS> 741,600 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 900 <OTHER-SE> 1,269,500 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 5,346,800 <SALES> 2,656,200 <F3> <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,682,300 <CGS> 1,607,700 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,607,700 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 54,900 <INCOME-PRETAX> 520,600 <F4> <INCOME-TAX> 190,400 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 330,200 <F4> <DISCONTINUED> 2,587,200 <F5> <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,917,400 <EPS-PRIMARY> 30.64 <EPS-DILUTED> 29.76 <FN> <F1> Amount shown is net of allowances. <F2> Included within current assets are net assets of discontinued operations of $369,800. <F3> Excludes sales reported by the discontinued health care segment of $1,650,700 for the first nine months of 1996. <F4> Includes (i) a gain of $326,400 ($210,100 after-tax) on the sales of businesses, principally the water treatment and process chemicals business, and (ii) a charge of $53,700 ($32,400 after-tax) relating to restructuring costs. <F5> Includes (i) after-tax income of $24,100 from health care operations, (ii) an after-tax gain of $2,483,700 on the separation of National Medical Care, Inc. and (iii) an after-tax gain of $79,400 on the sale of the transgenic plant business of Grace's Agracetus subsidiary.