<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ABBOTT
LABORATORIES' 1998 SECOND QUARTER FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q FILING.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                         251,768
<SECURITIES>                                    71,241
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,956,638
<ALLOWANCES>                                   197,141
<INVENTORY>                                  1,429,120
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             5,175,198
<PP&E>                                       9,119,481
<DEPRECIATION>                               4,452,846
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              12,684,540
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        5,000,120
<BONDS>                                      1,141,258
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     1,053,943
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,256,026
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                12,684,540
<SALES>                                      6,111,666
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             6,111,666
<CGS>                                        2,577,743
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,577,743
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               587,008<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                31,767
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              78,361
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,632,164
<INCOME-TAX>                                   457,006
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,175,158
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,175,158
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .77<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .76<F2>
<FN>
<F1>Other expenses consist of research and development expenses.
<F2>The EPS information in this exhibit has been prepared in accordance with 
SFAS No. 128, and Basic and Diluted EPS have been entered in place of Primary 
and Fully Diluted EPS, respectively.
</FN>