May 23, 2002



Jonathan G. Katz
Secretary
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street NW
Washington, DC  20549

RE:  File No. S7-08-02
       Abbott Laboratories Response

Dear Mr. Katz:

We have read the "Proposed Rule:  Acceleration of Periodic Report Filing Dates
and Disclosure Concerning Website Access to Reports" and have the following
comments.

Due to Abbott's public float and reporting history, Abbott would meet the
definition of an "Accelerated Filer" under the proposed rule.

In the introduction to the proposed rule, it is stated that it has been over
30 years since the filing deadlines have been changed, and that technological
advancements since that time have made it easier for companies to process and
disseminate information.  However, the amount of information required to be
included in financial statements and Management Discussion and Analysis has
also greatly expanded over time.  For example, the number of pages covering
financial statements, notes and M,D&A in Abbott's annual reports has increased
from seven pages in 1970 to 22 pages in 2001.  In addition, the type of
information that is now being disclosed is in addition to the basic income and
cash flow statements and balance sheet.  Generally speaking companies have
systems and procedures in place to capture and record basic financial
statement information.  However, information required for footnote disclosures
is usually gathered outside of the normal periodic financial statement close
process.  In addition, this process of gathering and summarizing this
information is even more complicated for decentralized and multi-national
companies.

Given the above, Abbott believes that there is a potential for the quality of
reporting to decrease if there is a sudden and dramatic acceleration of the
required filing dates for Forms 10-K's and Forms 10-Q's.  Abbott believes that
a less dramatic acceleration of the filing period for a certain test period
would be more appropriate.  This would allow the SEC and users of the
financial statements to assess the continued quality of the filings given the
shortened filing period.  At the end of the test period, the SEC could
reassess the filing deadlines.  Companies should be encouraged, however, to
file at the earliest possible date, but would have the safety net of the
extended filing deadlines.

Very Truly Yours,

Frank J. Loughery
Assistant Corporate Controller
Abbott Laboratories