8-K

                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                          Washington, D.C. 20549


                                 FORM 8-K


                              CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)
                  OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported):  October 13, 1998


                   AMERICAN HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION
         (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



     Delaware                      1-1225                  13-2526821   
(State or other jurisdiction  (Commission File           (IRS Employer
 of incorporation)                  Number)             Identification No.)






Five Giralda Farms, Madison, New Jersey                       07940     
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                    (Zip Code)




Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 973-660-5000





Item 5.   Other Events.

          On October 13, 1998, American Home Products Corporation ("AHP") and
          Monsanto Company ("Monsanto") announced that by mutual consent they
          have terminated the Agreement and Plan of Merger among AHP, MA Sub,
          Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AHP ("Merger Sub"), and Monsanto,
          dated as of May 31, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement").  The Board of
          Directors of each of the two companies has determined that the
          transaction is not in the best interest of their respective
          stockholders.

Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits

          (c)  Exhibits

          (99) Press Release, dated October 13, 1998, announcing the
               termination of the Merger Agreement between AHP, Merger Sub
               and Monsanto.



                                 SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                         AMERICAN HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION


                         By: /s/ Paul J. Jones 
                               Vice President and Comptroller
                              (Duly Authorized Signatory and
                               Chief Accounting Officer)



Dated:  October 13, 1998








                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
       

              (99)  Press Release, dated October 13, 1998, announcing the
                    termination of the Merger Agreement between AHP, Merger
                    Sub and Monsanto.

EX-99

MADISON, NJ - October 13, 1998 --  American Home Products
Corporation (NYSE: AHP) and Monsanto Company (NYSE: MTC)
announced today that they have terminated their merger agreement
by mutual consent.  The Board of Directors of each of the two
companies has determined that the transaction is not in the best
interest of their respective stockholders.

AHP is one of the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical
and health care products companies.  It is a leader in the
discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of
prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications.  It is also
a global leader in vaccines, biotechnology, agricultural products
and animal health care.

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