EXHIBIT 24(a)

      I, Nancy V. Van Allen, Senior Assistant Secretary of Merck & Co., Inc., a
Corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New
Jersey, do hereby certify that the following is a true copy of a resolution
adopted on November 26, 2002, at a meeting of the Directors of said Corporation
held in the town of Whitehouse Station, State of New Jersey, duly called in
accordance with the provisions of the By-Laws of said Corporation, and at which
a quorum of Directors was present:

            RESOLVED, that the proper officers of the Company are hereby
      authorized and directed on behalf of the Company to prepare, execute and
      file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a
      Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto, and any and all
      exhibits and other documents relating thereto or required by law or
      regulation in connection therewith, for the registration under the
      Securities Act of 1933 of the deferred compensation obligations and shares
      of Common Stock of the Company which may be distributed under the Merck &
      Co., Inc. Deferral Program;

            RESOLVED, that Celia A. Colbert is hereby appointed and designated
      the person duly authorized to receive communication and notices from the
      SEC with respect to such Registration Statement or any amendments thereto
      and as agent for service of process;

            RESOLVED, that each officer, director or employee of the Company who
      may be required to execute such Registration Statement or any amendments
      thereto (whether on behalf of the Company, or as an officer or director
      thereof, or by attesting the seal of the Company, or on behalf of the
      Program, or otherwise) is hereby authorized to execute a power of attorney
      appointing Celia A. Colbert and Kenneth C. Frazier, and each of them
      severally, his or her true and lawful attorney or attorneys to execute in
      his or her name, place and stead (in any such capacity) such Registration
      Statement, and any and all amendments thereto and any and all exhibits and
      other documents necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to
      file the same with the SEC, each of said attorneys to have power to act
      with or without the other and to have full power and authority to do and
      perform in the name and on behalf of each of said officers, directors and
      employees, or any of them, as the case may be,

      every act whatsoever necessary or advisable to be done in the premises as
      fully and to all intents and purposes as any such officer, director or
      employee might or could do in person;

            RESOLVED, that the proper officers of the Company are hereby
      authorized and directed to arrange with the New York Stock Exchange and
      the Philadelphia Stock Exchange for the listing of the additional shares
      of the Common Stock of the Company to be issued in connection with the
      Program; and

            RESOLVED, that the proper officers of the Company, with the advice
      of counsel, are hereby authorized to take any action and to execute and
      deliver any letters, documents, agreements or other instruments as they
      deem necessary, appropriate or desirable to carry out the purposes and
      intents of this Special Resolution.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my signature and affixed
the seal of the Corporation this 27th day of November 2002.

                                             By:  /s/ Nancy V. Van Allen
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Nancy V. Van Allen
                                                  Senior Assistant Secretary

[Corporate Seal]