<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
ABBOTT LABORATORIES' 1998 FIRST QUARTER FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                         225,544
<SECURITIES>                                    69,401
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,884,909
<ALLOWANCES>                                   183,677
<INVENTORY>                                  1,344,191
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             5,181,804
<PP&E>                                       8,899,831
<DEPRECIATION>                               4,313,956
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              12,115,102
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        4,726,575
<BONDS>                                      1,139,720
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       997,593
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,144,119
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                12,115,102
<SALES>                                      3,044,913
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,044,913
<CGS>                                        1,279,973
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,279,973
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               279,876 <F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                16,504
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              37,960
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                818,879
<INCOME-TAX>                                   229,286
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            589,593
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   589,593
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.76
<FN>
<F1>Other Expenses consist of research and development expenses.
</FN>