<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ABBOTT
LABORATORIES' 1998 THIRD QUARTER FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q FILING.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         223,470
<SECURITIES>                                    50,563
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,916,202
<ALLOWANCES>                                   183,555
<INVENTORY>                                  1,394,114
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             5,066,210
<PP&E>                                       9,201,129
<DEPRECIATION>                               4,555,362
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              12,603,034
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        4,664,112
<BONDS>                                      1,340,845
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     1,114,445
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,259,447
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                12,603,034
<SALES>                                      9,147,433
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             9,147,433
<CGS>                                        3,952,753
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                3,952,753
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               879,086<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                27,294
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             119,388
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              2,370,666
<INCOME-TAX>                                   663,786
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,706,880
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,706,880
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.12<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.10<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>