SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 10Q

               QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                       For Quarter Ended March 31, 1997

                          Commission File No. 1-4582


                            RALSTON PURINA COMPANY
                            ----------------------
          -----------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                       MISSOURI               43-0470580
         ------------------------------------------------------------
     (State  of  Incorporation)          (I.R.S.  Employer
Identification  No.)

     CHECKERBOARD  SQUARE,  ST.  LOUIS  MISSOURI  63164
         ------------------------------------------------------------
     (Address  of  principal  executive  offices)
     (Zip  Code)

                                (314) 982-1000
         ------------------------------------------------------------
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Registrant  (1)  has  filed  all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or
15(d)  of  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months,
and  (2)  has  been  subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                         YES:      X          NO:    _____
                               -----

Number  of  shares of Ralston Purina common stock, $.10 par value, outstanding
as  of  the  close  of  business  on  May  9, 1997:

<PAGE>
106,388,722

PART  I  -          FINANCIAL  INFORMATION


                            RALSTON PURINA COMPANY
                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                           OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
       ----------------------------------------------------------------

OPERATING  RESULTS

Net  earnings  for  the  six  months  ended March 31, 1997 were $214.1 million
compared  to  $187.6  million for the same period in the prior year.  Earnings
increased in the current year due to higher equity earnings from the Company's
investment  in  Interstate  Bakeries  Corporation  and lower interest expense.
Earnings  per  share  for  the  six months ended March 31, 1997 were $2.04 and
$1.92  on  a  primary and fully diluted basis, respectively, compared to $1.77
and  $1.67  in  the  prior  year.

For the quarter ended March 31, 1997, net earnings were $76.7 million compared
to $59.1 million for the same quarter in 1996.  The earnings increase resulted
from  improved  performance  in  Battery  Products, higher equity earnings and
lower  interest  expense,  partially  offset  by lower Pet Products' earnings.
Primary and fully diluted earnings per share were $.72 and $.69, respectively,
in  the  current  quarter  compared  to  $.55  and  $.52  a  year  ago.

BUSINESS  SEGMENTS

Sales  for  the Pet Products segment increased 9.5% in the quarter and 8.5% in
the  six  months  on  higher  volumes  and pricing.  However, operating profit
decreased  for the quarter and six months as these gains were more than offset
by  higher  pet  food ingredient costs and increased promotion support for new
and  core  brands.

Sales  for  the  Battery Products segment were flat in the quarter and the six
months  over  the  same periods in the prior year.  During the quarter and six
months,  worldwide  branded  alkaline  volumes improved, particularly in North
America  and  the Asia Pacific region.  In addition, increased domestic prices
had  a  positive effect.  These positive factors were offset by lower alkaline
private  label  and  Original  Equipment  Manufacturers  (OEM)  sales in North
America  and  Europe,  decreased  OEM  rechargeable  sales in the Asia Pacific
region  due  to  competitive  pricing  pressures, and the continued decline in
carbon  zinc  sales.

Battery  Products' operating profit increased significantly in the quarter and
also  increased  in the six months due primarily to a favorable product mix in
North  America  and  the  Asia  Pacific  region.

The  Company  continues  to  review  its  battery  production capacity and its
business  structure,  particularly  in  Europe,  in  light of pervasive global
trends,  including  the continuing shift from carbon zinc to alkaline products
and  easing  of  trade  restrictions  in  many  regions.

Sales  for the Soy Protein Products segment increased 10.0% in the quarter and
8.4%  in  the  six months on higher volume in food protein products and higher
prices.    Operating  profit  decreased  as  higher  raw material and business
development  and  management  costs  more  than  offset  the  sales  increase.

Sales  for  International  Agricultural Products increased 6.6% in the quarter
and  14.1%  in  the six months on increased volumes in the Asia Pacific region
and  higher  pricing,  and  also on prior year acquisitions in the six months.
These  gains  were  partially  offset  by  lower  volumes in South and Central
America.    Operating  profit  increased  in the quarter and six months on the
sales  increase  and  favorable  unit  margins  in  the  Asia  Pacific region,
partially offset by lower margins in South and Central America.  Additionally,
results  improved  in  France  and  Brazil reflecting the impact of prior year
restructuring.

During  the  six  months  ended  March  31,  1997,  one  plant  was  closed,
approximately 320 employees were terminated and termination benefits and other
cash  costs  of  $15.9  million  were  paid  in connection with provisions for
restructuring,  resulting  in  a  reserve balance of $9.6 million at March 31,
1997.    This  activity  is  primarily  associated  with  Battery  Products'
restructuring.

RESULTS  OF  OPERATIONS

Gross  profit as a percentage of sales was 40.3% in the six months compared to
41.0%  in  the prior year six months.  The decreased percentage in the current
period reflects decreased percentages in Pet Products and Soy Protein Products
where  margins  were unfavorably impacted by higher raw material costs.  Price
increases  in  these  segments were insufficient to maintain historical margin
levels.    Additionally,  sales  increases  in  the  lower margin Agricultural
Products  segment  negatively  impacted  Company  margins.    Gross  profit
percentages  were  40.1%  and  39.4%  for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 and
1996,  respectively.    The  increased  percentage  in  the  quarter  reflects
improvements  in  Battery  Products,  Agricultural  Products and Pet Products,
partially  offset  by  a decreased percentage in Soy Protein Products as price
increases  have  not  offset  higher  raw  material  costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 8.0% in the current six
months  and 7.2% in the quarter due to increases in Pet Products and increased
business  development  and  management  costs  in Soy Protein Products, and on
prior  year  acquisitions  in  the  six  months.      Selling,  general  and
administrative expenses were 17.4% and 17.2% of sales in the current and prior
year  six  month periods, respectively, and 19.0% and 18.9% in the current and
prior  year  second  quarters.

Advertising and promotion expense increased 9.3% in the current six months and
12.0%  in  the  current  quarter due to additional promotional spending in Pet
Products.    As  a  percentage of sales, advertising and promotion expense was
10.6%  and  10.7%  in the current six months and second quarter, respectively,
compared  to  10.4%  and  10.2%  in  the  same  periods  a  year  ago.

Other  income/expense,  net,  was  $15.3  million favorable for the six months
primarily  due to prior year foreign currency translation and exchange losses,
particularly  in  Mexico  and  Venezuela.

Income  taxes,  which  include  federal,  state and foreign taxes, were 37% of
pre-tax earnings before equity earnings for the current quarter and six months
compared  to  38%  in  the  prior  year  periods.

FINANCIAL  CONDITION

The  Company's    primary  source  of  liquidity  is  cash flow generated from
operations.    For  the  six  months  ended  March  31,  1997,  cash flow from
operations  was  $326.8  million  compared to $283.3 million in the six months
ended  March 31, 1996.  The increase in cash flow in the current six months is
due  to  increased  cash  earnings  and  changes  in  working  capital.

Working capital was $97.4 million at March 31, 1997, while current liabilities
exceeded  current assets by $22.1 million at September 30, 1996.  The increase
in  working  capital  is  primarily  due to decreased debt levels and accounts
payable  balances,  partially  offset by reduced accounts receivable balances.

The  increased cash used by investing activities was primarily due to a higher
level of capital expenditures related to the expansion of production capacity.

On  October  2,  1995,  the  Company  issued $175 million of 7-3/4% fixed rate
long-term  debt.

As  of April 30, 1997, approximately 1,130,000 shares remained under the Board
of  Directors' authorization dated February 16, 1994 for the purchase of up to
3  million  shares  of    RAL  Stock.

As  previously  announced,  the  Company intends to separate its international
agricultural  animal  feeds  business  in a tax-free spin-off to shareholders.
Completion  of the spin-off is expected in early 1998 and is contingent upon a
favorable  tax  ruling  from  the Internal Revenue Service and approval by the
Ralston  Purina  Board  of  Directors.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                       RALSTON PURINA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
                     (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)


                                          QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31,
                                          -----------------------
                              SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                ------------------------


                                             1997       1996       1997       1996
                                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>

Net Sales                                  $1,519.5   $1,432.1   $3,279.8   $3,071.4 
                                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

Costs and Expenses
  Cost of products sold                       909.7      867.5    1,956.7    1,812.1 
  Selling, general and administrative         289.3      269.9      571.8      529.4 
  Advertising and promotion                   163.2      145.7      348.5      319.0 
  Interest expense                             42.8       49.5       87.0       99.2 
  Other (income)/expense, net                   3.5        6.4       (0.9)      14.4 
                                            1,408.5    1,339.0    2,963.1    2,774.1 
                                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

Earnings before Income Taxes and
  Equity Earnings                             111.0       93.1      316.7      297.3 

Income Taxes                                  (41.1)     (35.4)    (117.2)    (113.0)
                                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

Earnings before Equity Earnings                69.9       57.7      199.5      184.3 

Equity Earnings, Net of Taxes                   6.8        1.4       14.6        3.3 
                                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

Net Earnings                                   76.7       59.1      214.1      187.6 

Preferred Stock Dividend, Net of Taxes         (3.3)      (3.6)      (6.7)      (7.2)
                                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

Earnings Available to Common Shareholders  $   73.4   $   55.5   $  207.4   $  180.4 
                                           =========  =========  =========  =========

Cash Dividends Declared per Common Share   $   0.60   $   0.60   $   0.60   $   0.60 
                                           =========  =========  =========  =========


Earnings Per Share
    Primary                                $   0.72   $   0.55   $   2.04   $   1.77 
    Fully Diluted                          $   0.69   $   0.52   $   1.92   $   1.67 


</TABLE>


           See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                     RALSTON PURINA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                            CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                                   (CONDENSED)
                              (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)


                                                      MARCH 31,    SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                     -----------  ---------------

                                                        1997           1996
                                                     -----------  ---------------
ASSETS
<S>                                                  <C>          <C>

Current Assets
  Cash and cash equivalents                          $     86.6   $         62.3 
  Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts
    of  $38.1 and $35.9, respectively                     779.1            845.6 
  Inventories
    Raw materials and supplies                            230.1            242.1 
    Work in process                                       125.2            123.6 
    Finished products                                     454.3            450.5 
  Other current assets                                    167.8            149.3 
                                                     -----------  ---------------
    Total Current Assets                                1,843.1          1,873.4 

Investments and Other Assets                            1,472.5          1,455.8 

Property at Cost                                        2,888.7          2,797.3 
  Accumulated depreciation                              1,392.6          1,341.4 
                                                     -----------  ---------------
                                                        1,496.1          1,455.9 

      Total                                          $  4,811.7   $      4,785.1 
                                                     ===========  ===============


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY

Current Liabilities
  Current maturities of long-term debt               $     97.5   $         98.0 
  Notes payable                                           791.8            881.9 
  Accounts payable                                        366.6            407.9 
  Other current liabilities                               489.8            507.7 
                                                     -----------  ---------------
    Total Current Liabilities                           1,745.7          1,895.5 

Long-Term Debt                                          1,448.7          1,437.0 

Deferred Income Taxes                                      59.2             50.0 

Other Liabilities                                         530.2            500.7 

Redeemable Preferred Stock                                314.3            323.5 

Unearned ESOP Compensation                                (87.7)          (110.6)

Shareholders Equity
  Preferred stock                                             -                - 
  Common stock                                             11.5             11.5 
  Capital in excess of par value                          268.3            217.3 
  Retained earnings                                     1,433.6          1,302.9 
  Cumulative translation adjustment                      (100.2)           (66.6)
  Common stock in treasury, at cost                      (474.0)          (482.3)
  Unearned portion of restricted stock                     (3.9)            (4.2)
  Value of common stock held in Grantor Trust            (334.0)          (289.6)
                                                     -----------  ---------------
    Total Shareholders Equity                             801.3            689.0 

      Total                                          $  4,811.7   $      4,785.1 
                                                     ===========  ===============
</TABLE>


           See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                    RALSTON PURINA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                  (CONDENSED)
                             (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)


                                    SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
                                    --------------------------


                                                          1997      1996
                                                        --------  --------
<S>                                                     <C>       <C>

Cash Flow from Operations
  Net earnings                                          $ 214.1   $ 187.6 
  Non-cash items included in income                       124.3     124.4 
  Changes in assets and liabilities used in operations    (10.9)    (40.0)
  Other, net                                               (0.7)     11.3 
    Net cash flow from operations                         326.8     283.3 
                                                        --------  --------

Cash Flow from Investing Activities
  Acquisition of businesses                                   -     (25.1)
  Property additions, net                                (165.4)   (125.8)
  Other, net                                              (10.3)      1.2 
    Net cash used by investing activities                (175.7)   (149.7)
                                                        --------  --------

Cash Flow from Financing Activities
  Net cash used by debt                                   (35.2)    (32.5)
  Dividends paid                                          (72.0)    (72.8)
  Other, net                                              (16.7)     (7.5)
    Net cash used by financing activities                (123.9)   (112.8)
                                                        --------  --------

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash                    (2.9)     (3.5)
                                                        --------  --------

Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents                  24.3      17.3 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period             62.3      44.3 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period                $  86.6   $  61.6 
                                                        ========  ========

</TABLE>


           See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

                    RALSTON PURINA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                MARCH 31, 1997
                             (Dollars in millions)


Note 1 - The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in
accordance  with  the instructions for Form 10-Q and do not include all of the
information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles
for  complete  financial  statements.    In  the  opinion  of  management, all
adjustments  considered  necessary for a fair presentation have been included.
Operating  results  for  any  quarter  are  not  necessarily indicative of the
results  for  any other quarter or for the full year.  These statements should
be  read  in  conjunction  with  the  financial  statements  and notes thereto
included  in  the  Ralston  Purina  Company  (the  Company)  Annual  Report to
Shareholders  for  the  year  ended  September  30,  1996.

Note  2 - Primary earnings per share are based on the average number of shares
outstanding  during  the  period,  excluding 4,275,000 and 4,173,000 shares of
common  stock  held by the Company's Grantor Trust at March 31, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.    Fully  diluted  earnings  per  share are based on the average
number of shares used for the primary earnings per share calculation, adjusted
for  the  dilutive  effect  of  convertible  preferred  stock,  stock options,
convertible  debentures and compensation awards, when the effects of inclusion
of  such  securities  does  not  result  in  anti-dilution.  Primary and fully
diluted  shares  used  in earnings per share computations were 102,025,000 and
110,843,000,  respectively,  for  the  quarter  ended  March  31,  1997  and
101,795,000 and 110,877,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 1996.  For the six
months ended March 31, 1997, primary and fully diluted shares were 101,947,000
and  110,946,000,  respectively,  and were 101,763,000 and 110,807,000 for the
six  months  ended  March  31,  1996.

Note  3  -  At  March  31, 1997, there were 102,035,000 shares of common stock
outstanding,  exclusive  of  8,380,000  shares  held in treasury and 4,275,000
Grantor  Trust  shares.   At September 30, 1996, there were 101,720,000 shares
of  common  stock  outstanding, exclusive of 8,740,000 shares held in treasury
and  4,228,000  Grantor  Trust  shares.

<PAGE>

Note  4  -  Other  (income)/expense,  net,  for the six months consists of the
following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

          March  31,

                                    1997    1996
                                   ------  ------
<S>                                <C>     <C>

Net translation and exchange loss  $ 7.3   $18.1 
Investment income                   (4.4)   (4.5)
Miscellaneous (income)/expense      (3.8)    0.8 
                                   $ (.9)  $14.4 
                                   ======  ======

</TABLE>



Note  5  -  Investments  and  Other  Assets  consists  of  the  following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                     March 31,   Sept. 30,
                                        1997        1996
                                     ----------  ----------
<S>                                  <C>         <C>

Goodwill                             $    490.0  $    509.1
Other intangible assets                   249.2       256.3
Investments in affiliated companies       320.1       301.6
Deferred charges and other assets         413.2       388.8
                                     $  1,472.5  $  1,455.8
                                     ==========  ==========
</TABLE>




Note  6  -  Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per
Share",  was  issued  in  February  1997.    The Company expects the impact of
adoption  of  this  statement  to  be  immaterial.


PART  II  -          OTHER  INFORMATION
                     ------------------

There  is  no information required to be reported under any items except those
indicated  below.


Item  6.          Exhibits  and  Reports  on  Form  8-K
                  -------------------------------------

     (a)          Exhibits  filed  with  this  Report:

     (11)          Statement,  re:  Computation  of  Per  Share  Earnings.

     (27)          Financial  Data  Schedule

     (b)          Reports  on  Form  8-K

          No  reports  on  Form  8-K  were  filed  during  the  quarter  for
which  this  report  is  filed.


                                  SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has  duly  caused  this  report  to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned  thereunto  duly  authorized.



     RALSTON  PURINA  COMPANY
     -----------------------------------------
     Registrant

     By:/s/____________________________
       ----
     Anita M. Wray
     Vice  President  and  Controller



Date:    May 15, 1997

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT  INDEX
-------------


Exhibits
--------

     EX-11          Computation  of  Earnings  Per  Share
     EX-27          Financial  data  schedule  for  2nd  Quarter  1997

     (provided  electronically)


Exhibit  27

(Document  prepared  on  Edgar)





i:\sec\10q\2qtr-97.doc