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                                 EXHIBIT 10.27

                                                               ROTO-ROOTER, INC.

                             SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT

                 This Agreement, made on June 1, 1995, by and between
Roto-Rooter, Inc. ("the Corporation"), a Delaware corporation with offices at
2500 Chemed Center, 255 E. Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 and
____________________ ("the Employee"), who is an employee of the Corporation.

                 1.  PREMISES

                             1.1  The Employee is a valuable employee of the
                             Corporation.  He/she wishes to provide adequate
                             protection for his/her family by insuring his/her
                             life.  The Corporation will assist the Employee in
                             providing this insurance coverage by payment of
                             part of the premiums under a split dollar
                             arrangement, whereby the Employee will be the
                             owner of a life insurance policy which will be
                             collaterally assigned to the Corporation as
                             security for amounts the Corporation will
                             contribute for the premium payments.

                 2.  APPLICATION FOR INSURANCE

                             2.1  The Employee has applied to Phoenix Home Life
                             Mutual Insurance Company for an Executive Equity
                             Life Insurance Plan on the life of the Employee
                             for $_________ ("Policy").

                 3.  POLICY OWNERSHIP

                             3.1  The Employee shall own the Policy and may
                               exercise all rights of ownership with respect to
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                             it, subject only to the security interest of the
                             Corporation as expressed in this Agreement and the
                             collateral assignment of the Policy to the
                             Corporation.

                 4.  PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS

                             4.1  On or before the due date of each annual
                             premium on the Policy, the Corporation will pay to
                             Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Company an
                             amount equal to the greater of 80 percent of the
                             annual premium or the annual premium less the
                             economic benefit cost received by the Employee (as
                             measured by the Phoenix Home Life term insurance
                             rates) for the portion of the insurance which the
                             beneficiary or beneficiaries named by the Employee
                             or their transferee would be entitled to receive
                             if the Employee died during the policy year for
                             which the annual premium is paid.

                             4.2  On or before the due date of each annual
                             premium on the Policy, the Corporation will pay to
                             Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Company, on
                             behalf of the Employee, the remainder of the
                             annual premium.  This payment will constitute
                             compensation to the Employee in the form of a
                             bonus and will be considered paid by the





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                             Employee for purposes of the Assignment (as
                             defined in Article 5).

                             4.3  These premium advances by the Corporation
                             shall apply specifically to annual premiums due
                             under the Policy up to the Employee's age of 65.
                             However, additional premium advances may be made
                             by mutual agreement of the parties.

                 5.  ASSIGNMENT OF POLICY

                             5.1  The Employee shall collaterally assign the
                             Policy to the Corporation so as to reflect the
                             respective interests of the parties under this
                             Agreement, said collateral assignment
                             ("Assignment") having been executed by the parties
                             on the date of this Split Dollar Agreement, and
                             thus made a part of such Policy and this
                             Agreement.

                 6.  USE OF DIVIDENDS

                             6.1  The dividends declared by Phoenix Home Life
                             Mutual Insurance Company on the Policy will be
                             used to purchase Option Term with the balance used
                             to purchase paid-up insurance.

                             6.2  The dividend option which is specified in
                             paragraph 6.1 of this Article will not be
                             terminated or changed without a conforming
                             amendment to this Agreement and unless such change
                             is done in accordance with the provisions





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                             of Part D "Joint Rights" section of the
                             Assignment.

                 7.  SURRENDER OF POLICY

                             7.1  The Employee shall have the sole and
                             exclusive right to surrender the Policy.

                             7.2  If the Policy is surrendered, the Employee
                             shall direct the insurance company in writing to
                             draw a check payable to the Corporation in an
                             amount equal to the "Assignee's Cash Value
                             Rights", as defined within the provisions of Part
                             A "Definitions" section of the Assignment.

                             7.3  If there is a delay in the surrender of the
                             Policy by either party to this Agreement, and if
                             such delay results in diminished policy values
                             being available to either party, neither party to
                             this Agreement shall hold the insurance company
                             liable for such diminution in Policy values.

                 8.  DEATH CLAIMS

                             8.1  Upon the death of the Employee, the
                             Corporation shall have an interest in the proceeds
                             of the Policy equal to the "Assignee's Death
                             Benefit Share", as defined within the provisions
                             of Part A "Definitions" section of the Assignment.
                             The balance of proceeds remaining shall be paid
                             directly by the





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                             insurance company to the beneficiary or
                             beneficiaries designated in the Policy.

                 9.  TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT

                             9.1  This Agreement shall terminate upon surrender
                             of the Policy by the Employee or upon thirty (30)
                             days' written notice of termination given by
                             either party to the other by registered mail at
                             the party's last known address.

                             9.2  Prior to termination of this Agreement, the
                             Employee shall direct the insurance company in
                             writing to draw a check payable to the Corporation
                             for an amount equal to the "Assignee's Cash Value
                             Interest", as defined within the provisions of
                             Part A "Definitions" section of the Assignment.
                             Upon receipt of this amount, the Corporation shall
                             release the security interest of the Corporation
                             expressed in this Agreement and the Assignment.

               10.  SPECIAL PROVISIONS

                             The following provisions are part of this Plan and
                             are intended to meet the requirements of the
                             Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974:

                                  10.01  -         The named fiduciary:  The
                                                   Secretary of the Company

                                  10.02  -         The funding policy under
                                                   this Plan is that all 
                                                   premiums on the Policy





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                                                  be remitted to the Insurer 
                                                  when due.

                                  10.03  -        Direct payment by the
                                                  Insurer is the basis of
                                                  payment of benefits under
                                                  this Plan, with those
                                                  benefits in turn being based
                                                  on the payment of premiums as
                                                  provided in the Plan.

                                  10.04  -        For claims procedure
                                                  purposes, the "Claims 
                                                  Manager" shall be the 
                                                  Secretary of the Company.

                                                  (a)  If for any reason 
                                                       a claim for
                                                       benefits under this
                                                       Plan is denied by the 
                                                       Company, the Claims 
                                                       Manager shall deliver 
                                                       to the claimant a
                                                       written explanation
                                                       setting forth the
                                                       specific reasons for 
                                                       the denial, pertinent
                                                       references to the
                                                       Plan section on which 
                                                       the denial is based, 
                                                       such other data as may be
                                                       pertinent and 
                                                       information on the 
                                                       procedures to be 
                                                       followed by the 
                                                       claimant in obtaining a
                                                       review of his claim, all
        




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                                        written in a manner calculated to be
                                        understood by the claimant.  For this 
                                        purpose:

                                        (1)     The claimant's claim shall be
                                                deemed filed when presented
                                                orally or in writing to the
                                                Claims Manager.

                                        (2)     The Claims Manager's
                                                explanation shall be in
                                                writing delivered to the
                                                claimant within 90 days of
                                                the date the claim is filed.

                                   (b)     The claimant shall have 60
                                           days following his/her
                                           receipt of the denial of the
                                           claim to file with the Claims
                                           Manager a written request for
                                           review of the denial.  For
                                           such review, the claimant or
                                           his/her representative may
                                           submit pertinent documents
                                           and written issues and
                                           comments.

                                   (c)     The Claims Manager shall
                                           decide the issue on review and





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                                                  furnish the claimant with a 
                                                  copy within 60 days of 
                                                  receipt of the claimant's 
                                                  request for review of 
                                                  his/her claim.  The decision
                                                  on review shall be in 
                                                  writing and shall include
                                                  specific reasons for the
                                                  decision written in a manner
                                                  calculated to be understood
                                                  by the claimant, as well as
                                                  specific references to the
                                                  pertinent Plan provisions on
                                                  which the decision is based.
                                                  If a copy of the decision is
                                                  not so furnished to the
                                                  claimant within such 60 days,
                                                  the claims shall be deemed
                                                  denied on review.

               11.  AMENDMENT AND BINDING EFFECT

                             11.1  This embodies all agreements by the parties
                             made with respect to the Policy.  The Agreement
                             shall not be modified or amended except by a
                             writing signed by the parties.  The Agreement
                             shall be binding upon the parties, their heirs,
                             legal representatives, successors and assigns.





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               12.  GOVERNING LAW

                             12.1  This Agreement shall be subject to and shall
                             be construed under the laws of the State of
                             Ohio.

               Executed by the parties at Cincinnati, Ohio, as of June 1, 1995.

                                        ROTO-ROOTER, INC.


                                        By:
--------------------------                  -----------------------------------
Witness                                     Signature, Corporate Title


                                        By: 
--------------------------                  -----------------------------------
Witness                                     Employee/Insured



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                           SCHEDULE TO EXHIBIT 10.27


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name                         Position                   Policy Face Amount
----                         --------                   ------------------
<S>                          <C>                            <C>
William R. Griffin           President and Chief            $2,328,000
                             Executive Officer

Douglas B. Harper            Executive Vice President        1,476,000

Patrick L. Johnson           Vice President                  1,284,000

Brian A. Brumm               Vice President, Treasurer         888,000
                             and Chief Financial Officer
</TABLE>





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