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            FILED
      IN THE OFFICE OF THE
   SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE
       STATE OF NEVADA
        JAN. 21, 1998
       NO. C1110-1998
             --------
       /s/ Dean Heller
DEAN HELLER, SECRETARY OF STATE

                                                                   EXHIBIT 3.(i)

                           ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                           ARGENT CAPITAL CORPORATION
                              A Nevada Corporation


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:


          That I, the undersigned, for the purpose of forming a corporation
under the laws of the State of Nevada, relating to the general corporation law,


I DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT:


          FIRST:      The name of the corporation shall be:

                      ARGENT CAPITAL CORPORATION


          SECOND:    The address of Corporate Service of Nevada, resident agent
of this corporation, is to be located at 502 North Division Street, Carson City,
Nevada 89703.


          THIRD:     This corporation is authorized to carry on any lawful
business or enterprise. This corporation may conduct all or any part of its
business, and may hold, purchase, mortgage, lease and convey real and/or
personal property, anywhere in the world.


          FOURTH:    The total amount of authorized capital stock of this
corporation is one hundred million (100,000,000) shares, said shares being non
assessable and each share having a par value of one-tenth of one-cent ($.001).
The Board of Directors has the authority to prescribe, by resolution, the
classes, series, number of each class and series, voting powers, designations,
preferences, limitations, restrictions and relative rights of each class and
series of stock.



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     FIFTH:  The members of the governing board of this corporation shall be
styled as directors over the age of eighteen (18) and their number shall be not
less than one. The initial director of this corporation shall be one, and the
name and address of the initial director is:

                            Dennis R. Gutzman, M.D.
                             2414 Babcock Suite 105
                             San Antonio, TX 78229

     SIXTH:    The name and address of the incorporator is as follows:

                                   Don Harmer
                             502 North Division St.
                           Carson City, Nevada 89703

     SEVENTH:  The period of existence of this corporation shall be perpetual.

     EIGHTH:   No director, officer of shareholder of this corporation shall
have personal liability for damages for breach of any fiduciary duty as a
director or officer to the corporation, its shareholders or any other person
except for:

                    (a)  Acts or omissions which involve intentional
                         misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law;

                                             or

                    (b)  The payment of dividends in violation of NRS 78.300


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     I, the undersigned, for the purpose of forming a corporation under the
laws of the State of Nevada, do make, file and record this certificate, and do
certify that the facts herein stated are true and I have accordingly hereunto
set my hand and seal this day: Wednesday, January 21, 1998.


                                             /s/ Don Harmer
                                             --------------------------------
                                             DON HARMER


STATE OF NEVADA    )
                   :ss.
CARSON CITY        )

     On this 21st day of January, 1998 personally appeared before me, a notary
public, Don Harmer, who acknowledged that they executed the above instrument.


                                             /s/ Sandra J. Mendez
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Notary Public

                                             [SEAL]


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