-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 yAvely4B9cWY9pj/4fEyRg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001242661-04-000067.txt : 20041119
<SEC-HEADER>0001242661-04-000067.hdr.sgml : 20041119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041119154407
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001242661-04-000067
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041119
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041119

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MONTRONE PAUL M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001032940
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10920
		FILM NUMBER:		041157898

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6039292607

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LIBERTY LANE
		CITY:			HAMPTON
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03842

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000880430
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-PROFESSIONAL & COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [5040]
		IRS NUMBER:				020451017
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LIBERTY LANE
		CITY:			HAMPTON
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03842
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6039265911

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LIBERTY LANE
		CITY:			LIBEHAMPTON
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03842
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001032940d20041119f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000880430</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FISHER SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FSH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001032940</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MONTRONE PAUL M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>LIBERTY LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMPTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03842</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>462896</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>54.316</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>412896</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>362500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Shares held by 1996 rabbi trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>294243</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Shares held by 1998 rabbi trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-01-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-01-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1048626</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The exercise and sale of the option shares were accomplished pursuant to a 10b5-1(c) sales plan adopted on September 13, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The sales price shown is the aggregate sales price for all option shares sold on November 17, 2004, actual denominations are as follows: 1,100 shares at $53.59; 1,500 shares at $53.64; 400 shares at $53.65; 300 shares at $53.60; 1,000 shares at $53.58; 200 shares at $53.71; 1,200 shares at $53.68; 800 shares at $53.72; 400 shares at $53.89; 300 shares at $53.91; 100 shares at $53.85; 100 shares at $53.84; 300 shares at $53.83; 500 shares at $53.90; 200 shares at $53.73; 600 shares at $53.67; 1,200 shares at $53.66; 1,100 shares at $53.76; 700 shares at $53.79; 1,200 shares at $53.77; 700 shares at $53.78; 1,500 shares at $53.75; 600 shares at $53.74; 3,500 shares at $53.70; 900 shares at $53.80; 200 shares at $54.00; 500 shares at $54.05; 200 shares at $54.07; 500 shares at $54.20; 100 shares at $54.29; 400 shares at $54.31; 400 shares at $54.26; 600 shares at $54.34; 700 shares at $54.39; 1,200 shares at $54.30; 100 shares at $54.33; 300 shares at $54.35; 1,500 shares at $54.28; 90
0 shares at $54.60; 300 shares at $54.66; 400 shares at $54.68; 1,700 shares at $54.69; 600 shares at $54.71; 300 shares at $54.70; 300 shares at $54.75; 400 shares at $54.72; 600 shares at $54.77; 300 shares at $54.84; 400 shares at $54.83; 600 shares at $54.81; 800 shares at $54.79; 700 shares at $54.78; 400 shares at $54.85; 500 shares at $55.01; 1,000 shares at $54.98; 1,100 shares at $54.95; 300 shares at $54.91; 1,100 shares at $54.94; 100 shares at $54.92; 1,400 shares at $54.96; 2,500 shares at $54.93; 2,500 shares at $54.86; 1,700 shares at $54.90; 500 shares at $55.00; 1,500 shares at $55.10.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options (right to buy) became exercisable in equal installments on each of the first five anniversaries of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Todd M. DuChene</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----