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 December 31, 1998

                           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    February  3,  1999:    328,368,334


PART  I  - FINANCIAL  INFORMATION

                             RALSTON PURINA COMPANY
                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                            OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                   (Dollars in millions except per share data)
        ----------------------------------------------------------------

OPERATING  RESULTS
Net  earnings  for the three months ended December 31, 1998 were $176.8, or $.58
and  $.55 per share on a basic and diluted basis, respectively.  Included in net
earnings  for  the  current  quarter  is  an unrealized after-tax gain of $44.9,
representing  a  market  value  adjustment  of  the Company's stock appreciation
income  linked  securities  (SAILS) debt.  This gain was $.15 and $.14 per basic
and  diluted share, respectively.  The fiscal 1998 first quarter net earnings of
$860.5, or $2.79 and $2.61 per share on a basic and diluted basis, respectively,
include  an  after-tax  gain on the sale of the Soy Protein Products business of
$705.1  (pre-tax  gain  of  $1.1  billion)  and  net  earnings from discontinued
operations of $15.7.  The Soy Protein Products business was sold to E.I. du Pont
de  Nemours  and  Company (DuPont) on December 3, 1997.  Discontinued operations
consist  of  the  Soy  Protein  Products  business through the sale date and the
Agricultural  Products  business,  which  was  spun  off  on  April  1,  1998.

Earnings  before  the unrealized gain on the SAILS mark-to-market adjustment for
the  quarter  ended  December  31,  1998  were  $131.9 compared to earnings from
continuing  operations  of $139.7 in the prior year quarter.  Earnings decreased
primarily  on lower Battery Products' operating earnings.  Earnings per share on
this  basis  were  $.43 and $.41 on a basic and diluted basis, respectively, for
the current quarter compared to earnings per share from continuing operations of
$.44  and  $.42  a  year  ago.


RESULTS  OF  OPERATIONS
Net sales decreased 1.9% in the quarter ended December 31, 1998 on lower Battery
Products'  sales,  largely  offset  by  increased  Pet Products' sales.  See the
following  section  for  comments  on  sales  changes  by  Business  Segment.

Gross  profit as a percentage of sales was 51.3% in the current quarter compared
to  50.8%  in  the  prior year first quarter.  This increase results because the
higher  margin  Pet Products segment represented a larger percentage of sales in
the  current  quarter.

Selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses  increased  3.6% in the current
quarter  due  primarily to increases in Battery Products.   Selling, general and
administrative  expenses  were 18.4% and 17.4% of sales in the current and prior
year  first  quarters, respectively, reflecting increased spending combined with
the  sales  decline  for  Battery  Products.

Advertising  and  promotion expense increased 1.9% in the current quarter due to
higher promotion support and advertising expenditures in Pet Products, partially
offset  by  lower  spending  in  Battery  Products.    As a percentage of sales,
advertising  and  promotion expense was 15.0% in the current quarter and 14.5% a
year  ago.    Other  income/expense, net, was favorable by $10.8 for the quarter
primarily  due  to  dividend  income from the Company's investment in DuPont and
lower  translation  and exchange losses in the current quarter.  The Company did
not  receive  dividend income from DuPont in the prior year quarter based on the
December  3  investment  date.

Income  taxes,  which  include  federal,  state and foreign taxes, were 36.0% of
pre-tax  earnings  before  equity  earnings  for the current quarter compared to
36.2%  in  the  prior  year.

BUSINESS  SEGMENTS
Sales  for the Pet Products segment increased 8% in the quarter on the inclusion
of  a  full  quarter  of  sales  from the Company's December 1997 acquisition of
Edward  Baker  Petfoods,  based  in  the  United Kingdom, and on higher volumes.
Operating  profit  increased  significantly  in  the  quarter  due  to the sales
increase coupled with lower ingredient costs, partially offset by an unfavorable
package  size  mix.

Sales for the Battery Products segment decreased 11% in the quarter primarily on
lower  rechargeable  battery  sales  and lower alkaline and carbon zinc volumes,
primarily  in  North America.  Strong competitive activity was the key factor in
the  sales decline.  In addition, currency devaluations, primarily in Asia, also
negatively  impacted  sales.    Excluding  the  unfavorable  impact  of currency
devaluations,  sales  declined  8%.

Battery  Products'  operating  profit  decreased  significantly  in  the quarter
primarily due to the sales decline.  The quarter results also included a decline
in  the Asia Pacific region versus prior year's first quarter.  This decline was
the  result  of the overall impact of the financial difficulties in that region,
which  began  impacting the Company's results in the second quarter of the prior
year.

First  quarter  results  for  the  rechargeable battery business continued to be
disappointing.  Sales and earnings from key Original Equipment Manufacturers are
still  at depressed levels.  Management is currently evaluating alternatives for
this  business  in  order  to  strengthen  the  Battery  Products  segment.

FINANCIAL  CONDITION
The  Company's    primary  source  of  liquidity  is  cash  flow  generated from
operations.    The  Company's  investments  in  DuPont  and  Interstate Bakeries
Corporation  provide  additional  sources  of  liquidity.  For the quarter ended
December  31,  1998,  cash flow from operations was $108.8 compared to cash flow
from continuing operations of $132.7 in the prior year quarter.  Working capital
was $70.0 at December 31, 1998 while current liabilities exceeded current assets
by  $54.5  at  September 30, 1998.  The increase in working capital is primarily
due  to  increased accounts receivable and decreased accounts payable, partially
offset  by  increases  in  other  current  liabilities.

During  the  prior year quarter, the Company used the proceeds from the issuance
of  short-term  debt  primarily for the acquisition of Edward Baker Petfoods for
$182.5.

In  December  1997, the Company sold its Soy Protein Products business to DuPont
for  $1,554.2,  comprised  of  22.5 million shares of DuPont common stock (which
stock  was  valued  at  $1,399.2 at purchase date) and the assumption of certain
liabilities.  This non-cash transaction resulted in an after-tax gain of $705.1.

On February 3, 1999, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the purchase of
up  to  eight million shares of RAL Stock. As of February 3, 1999, approximately
8,357,000  shares  remained  under  the  previous  and  new  Board of Directors'
authorizations  for  the  purchase  of  RAL  Stock.  These authorizations are in
addition  to  a  continuing authorization permitting the Company to acquire from
time  to  time,  at  prevailing  market  prices, shares of RAL Stock that may be
offered  for  sale  by the trustee of the Company's Savings Investment Plan as a
result  of  investment  directions  from  participants  in  the  plan.

SAILS  MARK-TO-MARKET  ADJUSTMENT
Current  quarter  results include an unrealized after-tax gain of $44.9, or $.15
and  $.14 per basic and diluted share, respectively, representing a market value
adjustment  of the Company's stock appreciation income linked securities (SAILS)
debt.    On  a pre-tax basis, this gain was $70.2.  The unrealized gain of $70.2
represents the difference between the debt's value at issuance, or $480, and the
current  cash  settlement  value  of  the  debt  based on 15.5 million shares of
Interstate  Bakeries  Corporation  (IBC)  common stock and an IBC stock price of
$26.43750  at  December  31,  1998.

At  maturity  on  August  1, 2000, the SAILS are mandatorily exchangeable into a
number  of  shares  of  IBC  common  stock owned by the Company, or cash, at the
Company's  option.   The number of shares or the amount of cash will be based on
the  average  market price of IBC stock on the 20 trading days prior to maturity
(the IBC Maturity Price).  If the IBC Maturity Price is greater than or equal to
$37.7819,  the  SAILS will be exchangeable at maturity into 12.70 million shares
of IBC stock.  If the IBC Maturity Price is $30.96875 or less, the SAILS will be
exchangeable  into 15.50 million shares of IBC stock.  If the IBC Maturity Price
is  between $30.96875 and $37.7819, the SAILS will be exchangeable into a number
of  shares  of  IBC stock between 15.50 million and 12.70 million, respectively,
based  on  an  exchange  ratio.

For  accounting  purposes,  terms  of the SAILS require them to be marked to the
cash value of the underlying IBC common shares into which they may be exchanged.
Accordingly,  a  market value adjustment is required for the SAILS debt when the
IBC  stock  price  is  outside  the range of $30.96875 and $37.7819.  If the IBC
stock  price is greater than $37.7819, the Company records an unrealized loss on
the  SAILS  debt, and if the IBC stock price is less than $30.96875, the Company
records  an  unrealized  gain.

The  Company's investment in IBC is included in Investments and Other Assets and
is  accounted  for  using  the  equity  method of accounting, which results in a
carrying  value  different  from  the  current  market  value of the investment.

ESOP  CONVERSION
At the end of December 1998, the Company converted all of the outstanding shares
of  Series  A  6.75%  Preferred  Stock (Redeemable Preferred Stock) into Ralston
Purina  Company  common  stock  (RAL  Stock)  in  accordance  with  terms of the
Redeemable  Preferred  Stock.    To  effect  this conversion, the Company issued
13,505,609  shares  held  in  Treasury  and  2,209,192 authorized but previously
unissued  shares  of  RAL  Stock.

YEAR  2000  UPDATE
The  Company  is  progressing with its plans and active projects to achieve 100%
Year  2000  readiness in its key application systems software, computer hardware
and  operating  systems  software, and various other systems containing embedded
chip  technology  before  the  turn  of  the  millennium.

The Company estimates that more than 80% of its application systems software has
been  modified  or replaced, which includes a higher level of remediation in the
United  States  than  in  other  world areas.  The remaining application systems
software is in the process of being modified or replaced with completion, in all
but  a  few  cases,  targeted  for  March  1999.   Testing has been completed on
approximately  60%  of  the  Company's  modified or replaced application systems
software.    The  Company  expects  to  complete  its  testing  in  June  1999.

Approximately  90%  of  the  Company's  computer  hardware and operating systems
software  have been modified or replaced, of which 80% have been tested for Year
2000  readiness.    Upgrade/replacement  and  Year 2000 readiness testing of all
computer  hardware  and  operating  systems  software is targeted for June 1999.

The inventory of systems that contain embedded chip technology is progressing as
planned,  and  these  systems are in the process of being verified for Year 2000
readiness.    Testing and upgrade/replacement of all impacted systems containing
embedded  chip  technology  is  targeted  for  completion  in  July  1999.

The  estimated  total  cost  for  the  Company to achieve Year 2000 readiness is
approximately  $34,  of  which  $24 has been expended through December 31, 1998.

The Company continues to evaluate critical suppliers and customers for potential
risks  of  major  interruptions  in  its  business due to Year 2000 issues.  The
assessment  of  risks  and  development  of  any  required  contingency plans is
targeted  for  completion  in  June  1999.

RESTRUCTURING  ACTIVITIES
During  the  quarter  ended  December 31, 1998, approximately 310 employees were
terminated  and  one  plant was closed in connection with restructuring accruals
established  by  the  Company  in  fiscal  years 1998 and 1997.    The 1998 cash
provision  represented  a voluntary early retirement option offered to most U.S.
Battery  Products'  employees  and  additional  charges related to the Company's
European  battery and international pet food operations.  The 1997 provision was
primarily  related  to  the  continued  rationalization  of  Battery  Products'
production  capacity  and  business  structure.    Activities  impacting  the
restructuring  reserve  during  the  quarter  ended  December  31,  1998 were as
follows:

Reserve  balance  at  September  30,  1998                              $  57.3
Termination  benefits  paid                                               (11.4)
Other  cash  exit  costs  paid                                             (2.1)
Increase  due  to  translation                                              1.7
                                                                        --------
Reserve  balance  at  December  31,  1998                              $   45.5
                                                                       =========

In  1998 the Company recorded an impairment write-down totaling $66.4, primarily
representing  a  write-down  of  the  Company's  investment  in  lithium-ion
rechargeable  battery  manufacturing  assets.  These assets, which are currently
held for sale, have a carrying value of $9.2 at December 31, 1998.  Due to rapid
changes  in  the  business  environment  since  the beginning of the lithium-ion
project  in 1996, it has become more economical to source lithium-ion cells from
other  manufacturers.  The Company continues to assemble and package lithium-ion
rechargeable  batteries.

FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS
Statements  in  this  document  that  are  not  historical  are  forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.    The  Company  cautions  readers  not  to  place  undue  reliance on any
forward-looking  statements,  which  speak  only  as  of  the  date  made.

The  Company  advises  readers that various risks and uncertainties could affect
its  financial  performance  and  could  cause  the Company's actual results for
future  periods to differ materially from those anticipated or projected.  These
risks  and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:  the effect of general
economic  conditions;  fluctuations  in  supply  and  demand  for  the Company's
products;  competition and competitive pricing pressures in the battery products
and  pet products industries, both domestically and internationally; significant
increases  in  operating  expenses,  including  the  cost  of  raw  materials;
fluctuations  in the value of the Company's investments in DuPont and IBC common
stock; the Year 2000 readiness of critical suppliers, customers and governmental
agencies,  as  well  as  the  difficulty  of  evaluating and remediating certain
systems  and technologies utilized in the operation of the Company's businesses,
and  incremental  costs  associated  with  evaluation and remediation; and other
risks  detailed  from  time  to  time in the Company's publicly-filed documents,
including  its  Annual  Report  on  Form 10-K for the period ended September 30,
1998,  and  its  current  report  on  Form  8-K  dated  January  26,  1999.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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


                                                     QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                     --------------------------
                                                             1998       1997
                                                           ---------  ---------
<S>                                                        <C>        <C>
Net Sales                                                  $1,291.8   $1,317.1 
                                                           ---------  ---------

Costs and Expenses
  Cost of products sold                                       629.7      648.2 
  Selling, general and administrative                         237.4      229.1 
  Advertising and promotion                                   194.1      190.4 
  Interest expense                                             49.7       46.3 
  Other (income)/expense, net                                 (11.0)      (0.2)
  Unrealized gain on SAILS debt                               (70.2)         - 
                                                           ---------  ---------
                                                            1,029.7    1,113.8 
                                                           ---------  ---------

Earnings from Continuing Operations before
  Income Taxes and Equity Earnings                            262.1      203.3 

Income Taxes                                                  (94.3)     (73.6)

Equity Earnings, Net of Taxes                                   9.0       10.0 
                                                           ---------  ---------

Earnings from Continuing Operations                           176.8      139.7 

Net Earnings from Discontinued Operations                         -       15.7 

Gain on Sale of Discontinued Operations                           -      705.1 
                                                           ---------  ---------

Net Earnings                                                  176.8      860.5 

Preferred Stock Dividend, Net of Taxes                         (2.6)      (3.1)
                                                           ---------  ---------

Earnings Available to Common Shareholders                  $  174.2   $  857.4 
                                                           =========  =========


Earnings Per Share
    Basic
      Earnings from continuing operations                  $   0.58   $   0.44 
      Net earnings from discontinued operations                   -       0.05 
      Gain on sale of discontinued operations                     -       2.30 
                                                           ---------  ---------
      Net Earnings                                         $   0.58   $   2.79 
                                                           =========  =========

    Diluted
      Earnings from continuing operations                  $   0.55   $   0.42 
      Net earnings from discontinued operations                   -       0.05 
      Gain on sale of discontinued operations                     -       2.14 
                                                           ---------  ---------
      Net Earnings                                         $   0.55   $   2.61 
                                                           =========  =========

              See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

                                                             DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                             ------------ -------------
<S>                                                              <C>            <C>
                                                                 1998           1998 
                                                              ---------      ---------
                   ASSETS
Current Assets
  Cash and cash equivalents                                       $   70.0   $   89.8 
  Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts
    of $26.0 and $24.5, respectively                                 867.6      717.2 
  Inventories
    Raw materials and supplies                                       130.6      134.7 
    Work in process                                                  115.3      124.1 
    Finished products                                                331.5      341.6 
  Other current assets                                               117.7      120.1 
                                                                  ---------  ---------
    Total Current Assets                                           1,632.7    1,527.5 

Investments and Other Assets                                       2,868.3    2,908.2 

Property at Cost                                                   2,246.4    2,212.9 
  Accumulated depreciation                                         1,125.7    1,096.9 
                                                                  ---------  ---------
                                                                   1,120.7    1,116.0 

                                                                  ---------  ---------
      Total                                                       $5,621.7   $5,551.7 
                                                                  =========  =========


               LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY

Current Liabilities
  Current maturities of long-term debt                            $   11.2   $   37.1 
  Notes payable                                                      748.6      772.4 
  Accounts payable                                                   251.3      286.2 
  Other current liabilities                                          551.6      486.3 
                                                                  ---------  ---------
    Total Current Liabilities                                      1,562.7    1,582.0 

Long-Term Debt                                                     1,725.5    1,794.8 

Deferred Income Taxes                                                326.7      309.3 

Other Liabilities                                                    541.4      533.6 

Redeemable Preferred Stock                                               -      256.1 

Unearned ESOP Compensation                                               -      (13.2)

Shareholders Equity
  Preferred stock                                                        -          - 
  Common stock                                                        32.9       32.6 
  Capital in excess of par value                                     163.9      127.7 
  Retained earnings                                                1,680.1    2,067.0 
  Common stock in treasury, at cost                                      -     (766.3)
  Unearned portion of restricted stock                                (3.9)      (4.2)
  Value of common stock held in Grantor Trust                       (194.5)    (191.5)
    Cumulative translation adjustment                                (77.8)     (87.3)
    Net unrealized holding loss on available-for-sale securities    (135.3)     (88.9)
                                                                  ---------  ---------
  Accumulated other comprehensive income                            (213.1)    (176.2)
                                                                  ---------  ---------
    Total Shareholders Equity                                      1,465.4    1,089.1 

                                                                  ---------  ---------
      Total                                                       $5,621.7   $5,551.7 
                                                                  =========  =========

                See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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


                                                        QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                        --------------------------


<S>                                                               <C>         <C>
                                                                   1998      1997 
                                                                 -------  --------
Cash Flow from Operations
  Net earnings                                                   $176.8   $ 860.5 
  Unrealized gain on SAILS debt                                   (70.2)        - 
  Gain on sale of discontinued operations                             -    (705.1)
  Net earnings from discontinued operations                           -     (15.7)
  Non-cash items included in income                                92.4      62.7 
  Changes in assets and liabilities used in operations            (58.7)    (58.8)
  Other, net                                                      (31.5)    (10.9)
                                                                 -------  --------
    Cash flow from continuing operations                          108.8     132.7 
    Cash flow from discontinued operations                            -      11.2 
                                                                 -------  --------
      Net cash flow from operations                               108.8     143.9 
                                                                 -------  --------

Cash Flow from Investing Activities
  Acquisition of business                                             -    (182.5)
  Property additions, net                                         (32.5)    (55.0)
  Other, net                                                       (3.3)     (8.2)
                                                                 -------  --------
    Cash used by investing activities - continuing operations     (35.8)   (245.7)
    Cash used by investing activities - discontinued operations       -     (85.9)
                                                                 -------  --------
      Net cash used by investing activities                       (35.8)   (331.6)
                                                                 -------  --------

Cash Flow from Financing Activities
    Net cash proceeds from (payment of) debt                      (38.9)    235.9 
    Dividends paid                                                (38.5)    (40.9)
    Other, net                                                    (16.4)     (2.9)
                                                                 -------  --------
      Net cash provided (used) by financing activities            (93.8)    192.1 
                                                                 -------  --------

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash                             1.0       0.2 
                                                                 -------  --------

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents              (19.8)      4.6 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period                     89.8     109.1 
                                                                 -------  --------
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period                         $ 70.0   $ 113.7 
                                                                 =======  ========

             See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
</TABLE>

                    RALSTON PURINA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998
                   (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

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,  1998.

Note  2  -  During  the quarter ended December 31, 1998, the Company recorded an
after-tax,  unrealized  gain  of $44.9, or $0.15 and $0.14 per basic and diluted
share,  respectively,  representing  a  market value adjustment of the Company's
stock  appreciation  income linked securities (SAILS) debt.  On a pre-tax basis,
this  gain  was  $70.2.  The  unrealized gain of $70.2 represents the difference
between  the  debt's value at issuance, or $480, and the current cash settlement
value  of  the  debt  based  on  15.5  million  shares  of  Interstate  Bakeries
Corporation  (IBC) common stock and an IBC stock price of $26.43750 per share at
December  31,  1998.

At  maturity  on  August  1, 2000, the SAILS are mandatorily exchangeable into a
number  of  shares  of  IBC  common  stock owned by the Company, or cash, at the
Company's  option.   The number of shares or the amount of cash will be based on
the  average  market price of IBC stock on the 20 trading days prior to maturity
(the IBC Maturity Price).  If the IBC Maturity Price is greater than or equal to
$37.7819  per  share,  the  SAILS  will  be  exchangeable at maturity into 12.70
million  shares  of IBC stock.  If the IBC Maturity Price is $30.96875 per share
or  less, the SAILS will be exchangeable into 15.50 million shares of IBC stock.
If the IBC Maturity Price is between $30.96875 and $37.7819 per share, the SAILS
will  be exchangeable into a number of shares of IBC stock between 15.50 million
and  12.70  million,  respectively,  based  on  an  exchange  ratio.

For  accounting  purposes,  terms  of the SAILS require them to be marked to the
cash value of the underlying IBC common shares into which they may be exchanged.
Accordingly,  a  market value adjustment is required for the SAILS debt when the
IBC  stock  price  is outside the range of $30.96875 and $37.7819 per share.  If
the  IBC  stock price is greater than $37.7819 per share, the Company records an
unrealized  loss  on  the  SAILS  debt,  and if the IBC stock price is less than
$30.96875  per  share,  the  Company  records  an  unrealized  gain.

The  Company's investment in IBC is included in Investments and Other Assets and
is  accounted  for  using  the  equity  method of accounting, which results in a
carrying  value  different  from  the  current  market  value of the investment.

Note  3  -  At  the  end  of  December  1998,  the  Company converted all of the
outstanding  shares  of  Series  A  6.75%  Preferred Stock (Redeemable Preferred
Stock)  into Ralston Purina Company common stock (RAL Stock), in accordance with
terms of the Redeemable Preferred Stock.  To effect this conversion, the Company
issued  13,505,609  Treasury  shares  and  2,209,192  authorized  but previously
unissued  shares  of  RAL  Stock.

                    RALSTON PURINA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998
                   (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

Note  4 - During the current quarter, the Company adopted Statement of Financial
Accounting  Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income." The Company has
restated  its  balance sheet at September 30, 1998 to reflect "Accumulated Other
Comprehensive  Income,"  in  accordance  with  this  statement.

The components of total comprehensive income for the quarters ended December 31,
1998  and  1997  are  as  follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                Quarter Ended December 31,
                                                --------------------------
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>
                                                          1998     1997 
                                                        -------  -------
Net Earnings                                            $176.8   $860.5 
  Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax
    Foreign currency translation adjustments               9.5    (12.7)
    Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities   (46.4)   (30.6)
                                                        -------  -------
Total Other Comprehensive Income                         (36.9)   (43.3)
                                                        -------  -------
              Total Comprehensive Income                $139.9   $817.2 
                                                        =======  =======
</TABLE>

Note 5 - On December 3, 1997, the Company completed the sale of the Soy Protein
Products  business to E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) for $1,554.2,
comprised  of 22.5 million shares of DuPont common stock (which stock was valued
at  $1,399.2 at the date of purchase) and the assumption of certain liabilities.
During  the quarter ended December 31, 1997, the Company recorded a pre-tax gain
on  the  sale  of  the  Soy  Protein  Products  business  of $1.1 billion and an
after-tax  gain  of  $705.1,  or  $2.30  and  $2.14 per basic and diluted share,
respectively.

Note  6  - Discontinued operations consist of the Company's Soy Protein Products
business  through  the  sale  date  (see  Note  5) and the Agricultural Products
business,  which  was  spun  off  on  April  1,  1998.

Note  7  -  Other (income)/expense, net, for the three months ended December 31,
1998  and  1997,  consists  of  the  following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                             December 31,
          <S>                                <C>      <C>
                                            1998      1997
                                           -------  ------
        Net translation and exchange loss  $  1.5   $ 3.8 
        Dividends on DuPont common stock     (7.9)      - 
        Other investment income              (1.9)   (1.2)
        Return on other investments          (3.1)   (2.9)
        Miscellaneous (income)/expense        0.4     0.1 
                                           -------  ------
                                           $(11.0)  $(0.2)
                                           =======  ======
</TABLE>

Note 8 - In December 1997, the Company acquired Edward Baker Petfoods, a United
Kingdom  manufacturer  of  extruded complete pet foods and a supplier of branded
and  private  label  products  to  the  European  market,  for  $182.5.

                    RALSTON PURINA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998
                   (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

Note  9  - In March 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
issued  Statement  of  Position  (SOP)  No.  98-1,  Accounting  for the Costs of
Computer  Software  Developed  or  Obtained  for  Internal Use.   This statement
requires  that  certain internal and external costs associated with the purchase
and/or development of internal use software be capitalized rather than expensed.
The  Company  implemented  this  statement  in the second quarter of fiscal year
1998.  Accordingly, the Company has restated first quarter results for the prior
fiscal  year  to  reflect  this  change  in  accounting.

Note  10  -  The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted
earnings  per  share  for  the  quarters  ended  December  31,  1998  and  1997.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                    RALSTON PURINA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998
                   (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

                                             Quarter Ended December 31,
                                             --------------------------
<S>                                                <C>        <C>
                                                     1998     1997 
                                                   -------  -------
Numerator:
   Earnings from continuing operations             $176.8   $139.7 
   Preferred stock dividends                         (2.6)    (3.1)
                                                   -------  -------
   Numerator for basic earnings per share -
        Earnings from continuing operations
          available to common shareholders         $174.2   $136.6 

   Effect of dilutive securities:
        ESOP stock                                    2.5      2.8 
                                                   -------  -------
   Numerator for diluted earnings per share -
        Earnings from continuing operations
          available to common shareholders         $176.7   $139.4 
                                                   -------  -------
        Net earnings from discontinued operations  $    -   $ 15.7 
                                                   -------  -------
        Gain on sale of discontinued operations    $    -   $705.1 
                                                   -------  -------

Denominator:
   Denominator for basic earnings per share -
          weighted average shares *                 299.1    307.2 

   Effect of dilutive securities:
          ESOP stock                                 16.2     18.5 
          Stock options                               4.1      3.9 
          Deferred Compensation                         -        - 
                                                   -------  -------
   Dilutive potential common shares                  20.3     22.4 

   Denominator for diluted earnings per
          share - adjusted weighted average
          shares and assumed conversions            319.4    329.6 
                                                   =======  =======

Basic earnings per share:
   Earnings from continuing operations             $ 0.58   $ 0.44 
   Net earnings from discontinued operations            -     0.05 
   Gain on sale of discontinued operations              -     2.30 
                                                   -------  -------
   Net earnings                                    $ 0.58   $ 2.79 
                                                   =======  =======

Diluted earnings per share:
   Earnings from continuing operations             $ 0.55   $ 0.42 
   Net earnings from discontinued operations            -     0.05 
   Gain on sale of discontinued operations              -     2.14 
                                                   -------  -------
   Net earnings                                    $ 0.55   $ 2.61 
                                                   =======  =======

</TABLE>
*  Weighted average shares used for the computation of basic earnings per share
excludes  13,559,000    and    12,963,000  shares  of  common  stock held by the
Company's  Grantor  Trust  at  December  31,  1998  and  1997,  respectively.

                    RALSTON PURINA COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998
                   (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

Note  11 - On December 31, 1998, after the conversion of the outstanding shares
of Redeemable Preferred Stock into Ralston Purina Company common stock (see Note
3),  there  were  314,954,000  shares  of common stock outstanding, exclusive of
13,559,000  Grantor Trust shares.  At September 30, 1998, there were 298,958,000
shares  of  common  stock  outstanding,  exclusive  of 13,875,000 shares held in
treasury  and  13,470,000  Grantor  Trust  shares.

Note  12  -  Investments  and  Other  Assets  consist  of  the  following:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                     Dec. 31,  Sept. 30,
<S>                                     <C>       <C>
                                         1998      1998
                                     --------  --------
Goodwill                             $  538.2  $  545.9
Other intangible assets                 228.8     231.2
Investments in affiliated companies     331.8     319.3
Available-for-sale securities         1,210.8   1,281.2
Deferred charges and other assets       558.7     530.6
                                     --------  --------
                                     $2,868.3  $2,908.2
                                     ========  ========
</TABLE>

Note  13 -  Available-for-sale securities at September 30 and December 31, 1998
consist  primarily  of shares of DuPont common stock obtained in connection with
the  sale  of  the  Company's  Soy  Protein  Products  business  (see  Note  5).
Available-for-sale  securities are carried at fair value, based on quoted market
prices.    The difference between fair value and cost basis of these securities,
net  of  tax,  is  shown  as  a  separate  component  within  Accumulated  Other
Comprehensive  Income  in  the  shareholders  equity section of the Consolidated
Balance Sheet.  The table below shows the aggregate fair value, gross unrealized
holding  gain/(loss),  tax  benefit,  and net unrealized holding gain/(loss) for
these  securities  as of September 30 and December 31, 1998.  The changes in net
unrealized  holding gain/(loss), net of tax, for the quarters ended December 31,
1998 and 1997 are included as a component of Other Comprehensive Income as shown
in  Note  4,  above.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                 <C>          <C>                <C>             <C>
                                Gross Unrealized             Net Unrealized
                     Aggregate     Holding                       Holding
                    Fair Value   Gain/(Loss)    Tax Benefit    Gain/(Loss)
                    -----------  -----------    ------------   -----------
December 31, 1998   $   1,210.8     ($211.4)     $    76.1        ($135.3)
September 30, 1998  $   1,281.2     ($138.9)     $    50.0         ($88.9)

</TABLE>

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

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

Item  4.   Submission  of  Matter  to  a  Vote  of  Security  Holders
           ----------------------------------------------------------

The Company held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on February 3, 1999, for the
purpose  of  electing four directors to serve three-year terms ending in January
2002,  to  ratify  the Board of Directors' appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP  as  independent  accountants  for  the  Company  for the fiscal year ending
September  30,  1999, to approve the adoption of the Ralston Purina Company 1999
Incentive  Stock  Plan, and to approve an amendment to the Company's Articles of
Incorporation  to  delete a reference to the Company's Series A ESOP Convertible
Preferred  Stock.

The  number  of  votes cast, and the number of shares voting for or against each
candidate  and  the  number  of  votes  cast for the other matters submitted for
approval,  as  well  as  the  number  of abstentions with respect thereto, is as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

             <S>                            <C>              <C>
                                           VOTES            VOTES
                                            FOR           WITHHELD

              Donald Danforth, Jr.      253,068,769       2,200,976
                                        -----------      ----------

              William H. Danforth       253,161,266       2,108,479
                                        -----------      ----------

              Richard A. Liddy          252,572,586       2,697,159
                                        -----------      ----------

              Katherine D. Ortega       252,638,540       2,631,205
                                        -----------      ----------

</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                             <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>

                                  VOTES         VOTES       VOTES     BROKER
                                   FOR          AGAINST   ABSTAINED  NON-VOTES
Ratification of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP      253,119,071   1,189,476    961,198       --

Adoption of the Ralston Purina
Company 1999 Incentive Stock
Plan                            158,973,443  73,587,901  3,029,490  19,678,911

Approval of Amendment to the
Company's Articles of
Incorporation                   227,358,362   5,507,911  2,724,562  19,678,910
</TABLE>

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

     (a)   Exhibits  filed  with  this  Report:

     (27)  Financial  Data  Schedule

     (b)   Reports  on  Form  8-K

A  Current  Report  on Form 8-K dated January 26, 1999, was filed to set forth a
cautionary statement for purposes of the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private
Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995,   with respect to forward-looking
statements  which  may  be  made  by  the  Company.


                                   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/ James R. Elsesser
James  R.  Elsesser
Vice  President  and  Chief  Financial  Officer


Date:  February 12,  1999

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


Exhibits
----------

     EX-27          Financial  data  schedule  for  1st  Quarter  1999
                    (provided  electronically)

Exhibit  27
(Document  prepared  on  Edgar)

<PAGE>