SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )*
NAME OF ISSUER: RALSTON PURINA CO
TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES: RALSTON PURINA GROUP
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED IS A
COMMON STOCK
CUSIP NO. 751277 30 2
FEE BEING PAID: YES
(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS: J.P. MORGAN & CO. INCORPORATED
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS: 13-2625764
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP: (A)
(B)
(3) SEC USE ONLY
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: UNITED STATES
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
(5) SOLE POWER TO VOTE: 4,066,936 SHARES
(6) SHARED POWER TO VOTE: 40,512 SHARES
(7) SOLE POWER TO DISPOSE: 6,023,817 SHARES
(8) SHARED POWER TO DISPOSE: 124,292 SHARES
(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
6,149,509 SHARES
(10) CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES:
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9): 5.7 %
(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: HC
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AMENDMENT NO: DATE DECEMBER 31,1997
FEE BEING PAID: YES
ITEM 1 (A) NAME OF ISSUER: RALSTON PURINA CO
ITEM 1 (B) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
CHECKERBOARD SQUARE
ST LOUIS, MO 63164
ITEM 2 (A) NAME OF PERSON FILING: J.P.MORGAN & CO. INCORPORATED
ITEM 2 (B) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE:
60 WALL STREET
NEW YORK,N.Y. 10260
ITEM 2 (C) CITIZENSHIP UNITED STATES
ITEM 2 (D) TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:
RALSTON PURINA GROUP
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, SECURITY BEING REPORTED IS A
COMMON STOCK.
ITEM 2 (E) CUSIP NO: 751277 30 2
ITEM 3 TYPE OF PERSON: (G) PARENT HOLDING COMPANY
ITEM 4 (A) AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED: 6,149,509 SHARES,
INCLUDING 0 SHARES WHERE THERE IS A RIGHT TO ACQUIRE.
ITEM 4 (B) PERCENT OF CLASS: 5.7
ITEM 4 (C) (I) SOLE POWER TO VOTE: 4,066,936 SHARES
(II) SHARED POWER TO VOTE: 40,512 SHARES
(III) SOLE POWER TO DISPOSE: 6,023,817 SHARES
(IV) SHARED POWER TO DISPOSE: 124,292 SHARES
ITEM 5 OWNERSHIP OF 5 PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS: NOT APPLICABLE
ITEM 6 OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN 5 PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON:
VIRTUALLY ALL OF OUR ACCOUNTS INVOLVE OUTSIDE PERSONS WHO HAVE THE
RIGHT TO RECEIVE OR DIRECT THE RECEIPT OF DIVIDENDS FROM,OR THE PROCEEDS
FROM THE SALE OF, SECURITIES IN SUCH ACCOUNTS WITH RESPECT TO THE CLASS
OF SECURITIES WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS REPORT. HOWEVER, NO SUCH
PERSON'S RIGHTS RELATE TO MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT OF THE CLASS UNLESS
SUCH PERSON IS IDENTIFIED BELOW.
ITEM 7 IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF SUBSIDIARIES:
MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK - 3(B) BANK
J.P. MORGAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. - 3(E) INVESTMENT ADVISOR
J.P. MORGAN FLORIDA FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK - 3(E) INVESTMENT ADVISOR
CERTAIN OF THE SECURITIES COVERED BY THIS REPORT MAY BE OWNED BY NON-
QUALIFYING SUBSIDIARIES OF J.P. MORGAN & CO. INCORPORATED, BUT THE
AMOUNT SO OWNED DOES NOT EXCEED ONE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING
SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY AND IT IS NOT PRACTICAL TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION CONCERNING SUCH SECURITIES
ITEM 8 IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
NOT APPLICABLE
ITEM 9 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF THE GROUP: NOT APPLICABLE
ITEM 10 CERTIFICATION:
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 PURPOSE OR EFFECT.
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.
KATHLEEN H. TRIPP
VICE PRESIDENT
