UNITED STATES 12/31/97
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )*
BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY
(NAME OF ISSUER)
COMMON
(TITLE CLASS OF SECURITIES)
075887109
(CUSIP NUMBER)
CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX IF A FEE IS BEING PAID WITH THIS
STATEMENT.____(A FEE IS NOT REQUIRED ONLY IF THE FILING PERSON: (1)
HAS A PREVIOUS STATEMENT ON FILE REPORTING BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF
MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT OF THE CLASS OF SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN ITEM
1; AND (2) HAS FILED NO AMENDMENT SUBSEQUENT THERETO REPORTING
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF SUCH CLASS.) (SEE
RULE 13D-7).
*THE REMAINDER OF THIS COVER PAGE SHALL BE FILLED OUT FOR A
REPORTING PERSON'S INITIAL FILING ON THIS FORM WITH RESPECT TO THE
SUBJECT CLASS OF SECURITIES, AND FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT
CONTAINING INFORMATION WHICH WOULD ALTER THE DISCLOSURES PROVIDED
IN A PRIOR COVER PAGE.
THE INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REMAINDER OF THIS COVER PAGE SHALL
NOT BE DEEMED TO BE "FILED" FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECTION 18 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 ("ACT") OR OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO THE
LIABILITIES OF THAT SECTION OF THE ACT BUT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ALL
OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE ACT (HOWEVER, SEE THE NOTES).
CUSIP NO. 075887109 13G PAGE 2 OF 5 PAGES
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PERSON
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE 04-1867445
BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SAVINGS INCENTIVE PLAN
(ESOP PORTION)
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP.*
NOT APPLICABLE A __
B __
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
0 SHARES
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
2,748,322.016 SHARES (REPRESENTS 858,850.63 ESOP PFD SHS
CONVERTED INTO COMMON RATIO OF 1 PFD = 3.2 COMMON
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 SHARES
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,748,322.016 SHARES (REPRESENTS 858,850.63 ESOP PFD SHS
CONVERTED INTO COMMON RATIO OF 1 PFD = 3.2 COMMON
9. AGGREGATED AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,748,322.016 SHARES (REPRESENTS 858,850.63 ESOP PFD SHS
CONVERTED INTO COMMON RATIO OF 1 PFD = 3.2 COMMON
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES*
NOT APPLICABLE
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
2.2%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
BK<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 075887109 13G PAGE 2A OF 5 PAGES
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PERSON
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE 04-1867445
BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY SAVINGS INCENTIVE PLAN
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP.*
NOT APPLICABLE A __
B __
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
0 SHARES
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
3,194,345 SHARES
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 SHARES
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,194,345 SHARES
9. AGGREGATED AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,194,345 SHARES
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES*
NOT APPLICABLE
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
2.6%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
BK<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 075887109 13G PAGE 2B OF 5 PAGES
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PERSON
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE 04-1867445
OR DISCRETIONARY ADVISOR VARIOUS COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT FUNDS FOR
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS AND OTHER INDEX ACCOUNTS BECTON DICKINSON
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP.*
NOT APPLICABLE A __
B __
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
1,571,876 SHARES
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
0 SHARES
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,716,676 SHARES
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 SHARES
9. AGGREGATED AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,716,676 SHARES
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES*
NOT APPLICABLE
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
1.4%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
BK<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 075887109 13G PAGE 2C OF 5 PAGES
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PERSON
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE/CO-TRUSTEE 04-1867445
VARIOUS PERSONAL TRUST ACCOUNTS BECTON DICKINSON
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP.*
NOT APPLICABLE A __
B __
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
14,900 SHARES
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
400 SHARES
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,800 SHARES
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
13,500 SHARES
9. AGGREGATED AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
15,300 SHARES
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES*
NOT APPLICABLE
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
.0%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
BK<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 13G PAGE 3 OF 5 PAGES
ITEM 1.
(A) NAME OF ISSUER
BECTON DICKINSON AND COMPANY
(B) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES
ONE BECTON DRIVE
FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ 07417-1880
ITEM 2.
(A) NAME OF PERSON FILING
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE
(B) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE,
RESIDENCE
225 FRANKLIN STREET, BOSTON, MA 02110
(C) CITIZENSHIP
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
(D) TITLE CLASS OF SECURITIES
COMMON
(E) CUSIP NUMBER
075887109
ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-1(B), OR
13D-2(B), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:
(B) _X_ BANK AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(A)(6) OF THE ACT
<PAGE>
PAGE 4 of 5 PAGES
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP
(A) AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
7,674,643.016 SHARES
(B) PERCENT OF CLASS
6.2%
(C) NUMBER OF SHARES AS TO WHICH SUCH PERSON HAS:
(I) SOLE POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE
1,586,776 SHARES
(II) SHARED POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE
5,943,067.016 SHARES
(III) SOLE POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT THE DISPOSITION OF
1,718,476 SHARES
(IV) SHARED POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT THE DISPOSITION OF
5,956,167.016 SHARES
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
NOT APPLICABLE
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER
PERSON.
NOT APPLICABLE
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT
HOLDING COMPANY
NOT APPLICABLE
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
NOT APPLICABLE
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
NOT APPLICABLE
<PAGE>
PAGE 5 OF 5 PAGES
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION
THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION SHALL BE INCLUDED IF THE
STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-1(B):
BY SIGNING BELOW I CERTIFY THAT, TO THE BEST OF MY
KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF, THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO ABOVE WERE
ACQUIRED IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS AND WERE NOT ACQUIRED
FOR THE PURPOSE OF AND DO NOT HAVE THE EFFECT OF CHANGING OR
INFLUENCING THE CONTROL OF THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES AND WERE
NOT ACQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH OR AS A PARTICIPANT IN ANY
TRANSACTION HAVING SUCH PURPOSES OR EFFECT.
THIS REPORT IS NOT AN ADMISSION THAT STATE STREET BANK AND
TRUST COMPANY IS THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF ANY SECURITIES COVERED BY
THIS REPORT, AND STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY EXPRESSLY
DISCLAIMS BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF ALL SHARES REPORTED HEREIN
PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-4.
SIGNATURE
AFTER REASONABLE INQUIRY AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND
BELIEF, I CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THIS STATEMENT
IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND CORRECT.
10 FEBRUARY 1998
STATE STREET BOSTON CORPORATION
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,
TRUSTEE
/s/ Mary Sue Spain
Senior Compliance Officer
