SCHEDULE 13E-3
RULE 13E-3 TRANSACTION STATEMENT
(PURSUANT TO SECTION 13(e) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934)

ROTO-ROOTER, INC.
(NAME OF ISSUER)

CHEMED CORPORATION
(NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING STATEMENT)

COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $1.00 PER SHARE 77878103
(TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES) (CUSIP NUMBER OF CLASS OF SECURITIES)

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MR. KEVIN J. MCNAMARA
CHEMED CORPORATION
2600 CHEMED CENTER
255 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI, OH 45202
(NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE NOTICES AND
COMMUNICATIONS
ON BEHALF OF THE PERSON(S) FILING STATEMENT)
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COPIES TO:
RICHARD HALL, ESQ.
CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE
WORLDWIDE PLAZA
825 EIGHTH AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10019
(212) 474-1000

AUGUST 14, 1996
(DATE TENDER OFFER FIRST PUBLISHED, SENT OR GIVEN TO SECURITY HOLDERS)

This statement is filed in connection with (check the appropriate box):

a. / / The filing of solicitation materials or an information statement
subject to Regulation 14A
[17 CFR 240.14a-1 to 240.14b-1]. Regulation 14C [17 CFR 240.14c-1 to
240.14c-101] or Rule 13e-3(c) [240.13e.3(c)] under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934.

b. / / The filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933.

c. /X/ A tender offer.

d. / / None of the above.

Check the following box if the soliciting materials or information
statement referred to in checking box (a) are preliminary copies: / /

CALCULATION OF FILING FEE

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TRANSACTION VALUATION* AMOUNT OF FILING FEE
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$89,487,830 $17,898
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* For purposes of calculating the amount of filing fee only. This amount assumes
the purchase of 2,182,630 shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share of
Roto-Rooter, Inc., at $41.00 net in cash per share. The amount of the filing
fee calculated in accordance with Regulation 240.0-11 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 equals 1/50 of 1% of the value of the shares to be
purchased.

/X/ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid.
Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form
or Schedule and the date of its filing.

Amount Previously Paid: $17,898 Filing Party: Chemed Corporation
Form or Registration No.: Schedule
14D-1 Date Filed: August 14, 1996

Page 1 of 7 Pages
Exhibit Index on Page 7
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This Rule 13E-3 Transaction Statement (the "Statement") relates to a tender
offer by Chemed Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser"), to
purchase any and all outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per
share (the "Shares"), of Roto-Rooter, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), at a price of $41.00 net in cash per share, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated August 14,
1996 of the Purchaser (the "Offer to Purchase") and the related Letter of
Transmittal (collectively, the "Offer"), and is intended to satisfy the
reporting requirements of Section 13(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Copies of the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal are filed
as Exhibits (a)(1) and (a)(2) to the Schedule 14D-1 which was filed
contemporaneously with this Statement (the "Schedule 14D-1").

The cross reference sheet below is being supplied pursuant to General
Instruction F to Schedule 13E-3 and shows the location in the Schedule 14D-1 of
the information required to be included in response to the items of this
Statement. The information in the Schedule 14D-1, including all exhibits
thereto, is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference and the responses
to each item to this Statement are qualified in their entirety by the provisions
of the Schedule 14D-1. All cross references in this Statement, other than cross
references to the Schedule 14D-1, are to the Offer to Purchase.

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CROSS REFERENCE SHEET

WHERE LOCATED IN
ITEM IN SCHEDULE 13E-3 SCHEDULE 14D-1
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Item 1(a)-(c)................................................................ Item 1(a)-(c)
Item 1(d)-(f)................................................................ *
Item 2....................................................................... Item 2
Item 3....................................................................... Item 3
Item 4....................................................................... *
Item 5....................................................................... Item 5
Item 6(a).................................................................... Item 4
Item 6(b).................................................................... *
Item 6(c).................................................................... Item 4
Item 6(d).................................................................... **
Item 7(a)-(b)................................................................ Item 5
Item 7(c)-(d)................................................................ *
Item 8(a)-(e)................................................................ *
Item 8(f).................................................................... **
Item 9....................................................................... *
Item 10...................................................................... Item 6
Item 11...................................................................... Item 7
Item 12...................................................................... *
Item 13(a)................................................................... *
Item 13(b)-(c)............................................................... **
Item 14(a)................................................................... *
Item 14(b)................................................................... **
Item 15...................................................................... Item 8
Item 16...................................................................... Item 10
Item 17(a)................................................................... **
Item 17(b)................................................................... *
Item 17(c)................................................................... **
Item 17(d)................................................................... Item 17(a)
Item 17(e)................................................................... **
Item 17(f)................................................................... **

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* The information requested by this Item is not required to be included in the
Schedule 14D-1 and has been omitted from the Schedule 14D-1.

** The Item is inapplicable or the answer thereto is in the negative.

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ITEM 1. ISSUER AND CLASS OF SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE TRANSACTION.

(a) The answer to Item 1(a) of the Schedule 14D-1 is incorporated herein by
reference.

(b) The answer to Item 1(b) of the Schedule 14D-1 is incorporated herein by
reference.

(d) The information set forth in "The Tender Offer -- Price Range of the
Shares; Dividends" of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

(e) None.

(f) The information set forth in "Special Factors -- Interests of Certain
Persons; Stockholdings of Certain Officers and Directors; and Related
Transactions" of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.

The answer to Item 2 of the Schedule 14D-1 is incorporated herein by
reference.

ITEM 3. PAST CONTACTS, TRANSACTIONS OR NEGOTIATIONS.

The answer to Item 3 of the Schedule 14D-1 is incorporated herein by
reference.

ITEM 4. TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION.

(a) The information set forth in "The Tender Offer -- Terms of the Offer"
of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

(b) None.

ITEM 5. PLANS OR PROPOSALS OF THE ISSUER OR AFFILIATE.

The answer to Item 5 of Schedule 14D-1 is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 6. SOURCE AND AMOUNTS OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.

(a) The answer to Item 4(a) of Schedule 14D-1 is incorporated herein by
reference.

(b) The information set forth in "The Tender Offer -- Fees and Expenses" of
the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

(d) Not applicable.

ITEM 7. PURPOSES, ALTERNATIVES, REASONS AND EFFECTS.

(a)-(b) The answer to Item 5 of Schedule 14D-1 is incorporated herein by
reference.

(c) The information set forth in "Special Factors -- Background to the
Offer" and "Special Factors -- Purpose and Structure of the Offer; Plans for the
Company After the Offer" of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by
reference.

(d) The information set forth in "Special Factors -- Purpose and Structure
of the Offer; Plans for the Company After the Offer", "Special
Factors -- Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences" and "The Tender
Offer -- Certain Effects of the Offer" of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated
herein by reference.

ITEM 8. FAIRNESS OF THE TRANSACTION.

(a) The information set forth in "Special Factors -- Fairness of the Offer"
of the Offer to Purchase is

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incorporated herein by reference.

(b) The information set forth in "Special Factors -- Fairness of the
Offer", "Special Factors -- Opinion of Financial Advisor", "The Tender
Offer -- Certain Information Concerning the Company" and "The Tender
Offer -- Price Range of the Shares; Dividends" of the Offer to Purchase is
incorporated herein by reference.

(d) The Offer is not structured in this manner.

(e) Was not so approved.

(f) None.

ITEM 9. REPORTS, OPINIONS, APPRAISALS AND CERTAIN NEGOTIATIONS.

The information set forth in "Special Factors -- Opinion of Financial
Advisor" of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 10. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

The answer to Item 6 of Schedule 14D-1 is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 11. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS OR UNDERSTANDINGS WITH RESPECT TO THE ISSUER'S
SECURITIES.

The answer to Item 7 of Schedule 14D-1 is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12. PRESENT INTENTION AND RECOMMENDATION OF CERTAIN PERSONS WITH REGARD TO
THE TRANSACTION.

(a) The information set forth in "Special Factors -- Interests of Certain
Persons; Stockholdings of Certain Officers and Directors; and Related
Transactions" of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

(b) The information set forth in "Special Factors -- Background to the
Offer" of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13. OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE TRANSACTION.

(a) The information set forth in "Special Factors -- Appraisal Rights" of
the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

(b) None.

ITEM 14. FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

(a) The information set forth in "The Tender Offer -- Certain Information
Concerning the Company" of the Offer to Purchase and the Company's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996 and the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Not applicable.

ITEM 15. PERSONS AND ASSETS EMPLOYED, RETAINED OR UTILIZED.

(a) The information set forth in "Introduction" and "Special
Factors -- Background to the Offer" of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated
herein by reference.

(b) The answer to Item 8 of Schedule 14D-1 is incorporated herein by
reference.

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ITEM 16. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

The answer to Item 10 of Schedule 14D-1 is incorporated herein by
reference.

ITEM 17. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

(a) The Purchaser's Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June
20, 1996 is filed as Exhibit 1 to the Purchaser's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 1996, and is incorporated herein by reference.

(b)(1) The opinion dated August 8, 1996 of CS First Boston Corporation is
incorporated herein by reference to Appendix A to the Offer to Purchase.

(2) Presentation dated August 7, 1996 of CS First Boston Corporation.

(d) Exhibits (a)(1) through (a)(9) of Schedule 14D-1 are incorporated
herein by reference.

(e) Not applicable.

(f) None.

After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this Statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: August 14, 1996

CHEMED CORPORATION,

by /s/ THOMAS C. HUTTON

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Name: Thomas C. Hutton
Title: Vice President

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EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT PAGE
NUMBER EXHIBIT NAME NUMBER
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(b)(2) Presentation dated August 7, 1996 of CS First Boston Corporation.