<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000350920
<NAME> MEDIQ INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998             SEP-30-1997
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