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                                                          EXHIBIT 24E
                                                      
                                                               
                           SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, constitutes and 
appoints JOSEPH HINES and BRADLEY C. ANDERSON, and each of them, his true and 
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and 
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all 
capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 
July 31, 1998, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Zila, 
Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with any and all amendments to such Form 
10-K, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in 
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to 
such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority 
to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be 
done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he 
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such 
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each of them, may lawfully do or cause to be 
done by virtue hereof.


DATED: October 27, 1998         

                                              /s/ PATRICK M. LONERGAN
                                             -------------------------
                                                  PATRICK M. LONERGAN
STATE OF ARIZONA  
                         ss.
County of Maricopa 

         On this 27th day of October, 1998, before me, the undersigned Notary 
Public, personally appeared PATRICK M. LONERGAN, known to me to be the person 
whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged that he 
executed the same for the purposes therein contained.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.

                                              /s/ JANICE BACKUS
                                            ---------------------
                                                  Notary Public 
My commission expires:

October 23, 2001