Document:

<PAGE>
                                                                     Exhibit 4.1

                       FIRST AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT

            AMENDMENT dated as of March 17, 2004 (this "Amendment"), to the
Rights Agreement dated as of December 11, 2000 (the "Rights Agreement"), between
Apogent Technologies Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"), and
EQUISERVE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as successor by assignment from Fleet National
Bank, a national banking association as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"). Terms
used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Rights Agreement.

            WHEREAS, the Company proposes to enter into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger, dated as of March 17, 2004 (as amended from time to time, the "Merger
Agreement"), among Fisher Scientific International Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), Fox Merger Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), and the Company.

            WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that
the Merger Agreement and the terms and conditions set forth therein and the
transactions contemplated thereby, including, without limitation, the Merger (as
such term is defined in the Merger Agreement), are advisable and are fair to and
in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders;

            WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined, in
connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, that it is desirable to
amend the Rights Agreement to exempt the Merger Agreement, the execution thereof
and the transactions contemplated thereby, including, without limitation, the
Merger, from the application of the Rights Agreement as set forth in this
Amendment;

            WHEREAS, Section 27 of the Rights Agreement provides that, prior to
the Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement), the Company and the
Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision
of the Rights Agreement without the approval of any holders of certificates
representing shares of Common Stock of the Company upon delivery of a
certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of Section 27
of the Rights Agreement, provided that the Rights (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) are not redeemable at the time of such supplement or amendment;

            WHEREAS, there has been no such Distribution Date as of the time
immediately prior to this Amendment, and the Rights are redeemable as of the
date of this Amendment; and

            WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Rights Agreement and in
accordance with Section 27 thereof, the Company has directed that the Rights
Agreement should be amended as set forth in this Amendment prior to the
execution of the Merger Agreement and has delivered a certificate to the Rights
Agent (as defined in the Rights Agreement) that this Amendment is in compliance
with the terms of Section 27 of the Rights Agreement.

<PAGE>
                                                                               2

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:

            Section 1. Amendments to Rights Agreement. The Rights Agreement is
hereby amended as follows:

            (a) The definition of "Acquiring Person" in Section 1(a) of the
Rights Agreement is amended by inserting the following new sentence at the end
of such definition:

            "Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, none of
      Parent, Merger Sub or any Affiliate or Associate of either of them shall
      be deemed to be an Acquiring Person or a Beneficial Owner of Common Stock,
      either individually or collectively, solely as a result of (i) the
      execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement or (ii) the consummation of
      the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated in the Merger
      Agreement."

            (b) The definition of "Stock Acquisition Date" in Section 1(dd) of
the Rights Agreement is amended to add the following sentence at the end
thereof:

            "Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, a Stock
      Acquisition Date shall not be deemed to have occurred solely as a result
      of (i) the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement or (ii) the
      consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated
      in the Merger Agreement."

            (c) The following definitions are added to Section 1 of the Rights
Agreement:

            "(jj) 'Merger' shall mean the merger of Fox Merger Corporation, a
      wholly-owned Subsidiary of Fisher, with and into the Company, or an
      alternative transaction mutually agreed upon by the Company and Fisher, in
      accordance with the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement.

            (kk) 'Merger Agreement' shall mean the Agreement and Plan of Merger,
      dated as of March 17, 2004, by and among Fisher, Fox Merger Corporation
      and the Company, as amended from time to time."

            (d) Section 3(a) of the Rights Agreement is amended to add the
following sentence at the end thereof:

            "Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, a
      Distribution Date shall not be deemed to have occurred solely as the
      result of (i) the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement or (ii)
      the consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions
      contemplated in the Merger Agreement."

            (e) Section 7(a) of the Rights Agreement is modified, amended and
restated in its entirety as follows:

<PAGE>
                                                                               3

                  "Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, at any time after the
         Distribution Date, the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may
         exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided
         herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
         exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and
         Section 23(a) hereof) in whole or in part upon surrender of the Rights
         Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate
         on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the
         principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
         purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with
         respect to the total number of one one-hundredths of a share (or other
         securities, cash or other asserts, as the case may be) as to which such
         surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or prior to the earliest of
         (i) the time immediately prior to the Effective Time (as such term is
         defined in the Merger Agreement), (ii) 5:00 P.M., New York City time,
         on December 12, 2010, or such later date as may be established by the
         Board of Directors prior to the expiration of the Rights (such date, as
         it may be extended by the Board (the 'Final Expiration Date'), or (iii)
         the time at which the Rights are redeemed or exchanged as provided in
         Section 23 or Section 24 hereof (the earliest of (i), (ii) and (iii)
         being herein referred to as the 'Expiration Date')."

            (f) Section 11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement is amended to add the
following at the end thereof immediately prior to the period:

            "; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything in this
      Agreement to the contrary, a Section 11(a)(ii) Event shall not be deemed
      to have occurred solely as a result of (A) the execution and delivery of
      the Merger Agreement or (B) the consummation of the Merger or any of the
      other transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement."

            (g) Section 13(a) of the Rights Agreement is amended to add the
following at the end thereof immediately prior to the period:

            "; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything in this
      Agreement to the contrary, a Section 13 Event shall not be deemed to have
      occurred solely as a result of (i) the execution and delivery of the
      Merger Agreement or (ii) the consummation of the Merger or any of the
      other transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement."

            (h) Section 25 of the Rights Agreement is amended to add the
following new section at the end thereof:

            "(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the
      Company shall not be required to give any notice hereunder to any holder
      of a Rights Certificate solely as a result of (i) the execution and
      delivery of the Merger Agreement or (ii) the consummation of the Merger or
      any of the other transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement."

            Section 2. Interpretation. The term "Agreement" as used in the
Rights Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the Rights Agreement as amended
hereby.

<PAGE>
                                                                               4

            Section 3. No Other Effect. The Rights Agreement shall not otherwise
be supplemented or amended by virtue of this Amendment, but shall remain in full
force and effect as amended hereby.

            Section 4. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be deemed to be a
contract made under the laws of the State of Wisconsin and for all purposes
shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of
such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such
State.

            Section 5. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.

                            [Signature page follows]

<PAGE>
                                                                               5

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Rights Agent have caused
this Amendment to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                               APOGENT TECHNOLOGIES INC.

                               By:  /s/ Michael K. Bresson
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Michael K. Bresson
                                    Title: Executive Vice President-
                                           Administration, General Counsel and
                                           Secretary

                               EQUISERVE TRUST COMPANY, as Rights Agent

                               By:  /s/ Carol Mulvey-Eori
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Carol Mulvey-Eori
                                    Title: Managing Director<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

March 11, 2004

Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.)
c/o Arlington Hospitality, Inc.
(f/k/a Amerihost Properties, Inc.)
2355 South Arlington Heights Road
Suite 400
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005
Attention: Jerry H. Herman, President

Gentleman:

         Reference is made to (i) those certain Lease Agreements listed in
Schedule 1 attached hereto (the "PROPERTY LEASES") between Arlington Inns, Inc.
(f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) ("TENANT") and the landlords described therein
(collectively, the "LANDLORD"), (ii) that certain Amended and Restated Master
Agreement dated as of January 24, 2001, which agreement was amended by the
parties thereto pursuant to that certain First Amendment to Amended and Restated
Master Agreement dated as of May 25, 2001 and that certain Second Amendment to
Amended and Restated Master Agreement dated as of June 4, 2003 (the Amended and
Restated Master Agreement as so amended herein called the "MASTER AGREEMENT")
and (iii) that certain Guaranty Agreement dated June 30, 1998 (the "GUARANTY"),
executed by Arlington Hospitality, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Properties, Inc.)
("GUARANTOR"). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meaning set forth in the Master Agreement.

         Pursuant to the various letters each dated March 2, 2004, Landlord
provided notice to Tenant of certain defaults under the Property Leases and
Master Agreement. Notwithstanding the continued existence of such defaults,
Landlord hereby waives such defaults and agrees to refrain from exercising its
remedies under the Property Leases and Master Agreement, subject to the
following terms and conditions:

         1.   Although Base Rent will continue to accrue at the rate set forth
              in the Master Agreement and the separate Property Leases, the Base
              Rent payments required to be paid on March 1, 2004 and April 1,
              2004 hereunder shall be reduced to an amount equal to an
              annualized rate of 8 1/2% of the stated value of the leased
              properties (the "REDUCED PAYMENT"). The Base Rent due, less the
              Reduced Payment, is herein called the "ACCRUED BASE RENT."

         2.   The Reduced Payment amount for March 1, 2004 is $385,319.00, which
              amount includes the late fee due on the March 1 Base Rent payment
              and past due Base Rent due to CPI increases as provided in the
              Property Leases. Tenant shall pay to Landlord, by wire transfer of
              good funds, on or before March 12, 2004, the March 1, 2004 Reduced
              Payment, less the sum of $108,897.00 (which amount shall be funded
              by Landlord from the Escrow Funds held under the Master
              Agreement),

<PAGE>

Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.)
c/o Arlington Hospitality, Inc.
(f/k/a Amerihost Properties, Inc.)
March 11, 2004
Page 2

              for a net payment of $276,422.00. The Reduced Payment amount for
              April 1, 2004 is $359,833.00. Tenant shall pay to Landlord, by
              wire transfer of good funds, on or before April 1, 2004, the April
              1, 2004 Reduced Payment, less the sum of $100,000 (which amount
              shall be funded by Landlord from the Escrow Funds held under the
              Master Agreement), for a net payment of $259,833.00.

         3.   Concerning capital expenditures reimbursement requests previously
              made by Tenant to Landlord with respect to the calendar year 2003,
              Landlord agrees to reimburse Tenant the total of $62,499.29 by
              wire transfer of good funds on or before March 12, 2004, which
              amount is net of the amount of $89,161.78, which is the estimated
              reserve payments to the Capital Expenditure Reserve Account due
              under the Property Leases and Master Agreement by Tenant for the
              months of January, 2004 (which payment was due on February 15,
              2004) and February, 2004 (which payment is due on March 15, 2004
              (the "Outstanding Reserve Payments"). The credit against the
              amount to be paid by Landlord in accordance with the prior
              sentence shall satisfy Tenant's obligation to fund the OUTSTANDING
              RESERVE PAYMENTS and to the extent Tenant is entitled to any
              further reimbursement for any additional capital expenditures for
              the calendar year 2003 under the terms of the Property Leases,
              such reimbursement shall not exceed $20,000.00 in any event. The
              provisions of this Section 3 do not apply to the payment of
              capital expenditures for the four hotels with securitized
              financing.

         4.   On or before the earlier of (a) April 30, 2004 or (b) the date of
              any failure by Tenant to comply with the terms hereof (the
              "TERMINATION DATE"), Tenant shall (a) pay all Accrued Base Rent,
              and (b) restore the $208,897.00 of the Escrow Funds used by
              Landlord to fund a portion of the Reduced Payment as provided in
              Paragraph 2 above.

         5.   Subject to the terms of that certain Confidentiality Agreement
              between Tenant and Landlord and dated February 19, 2004 and the
              advice of its auditors and legal counsel, Tenant will use good
              faith efforts to promptly provide to Landlord all financial
              information regarding Tenant, Guarantor and the operation of the
              leased properties requested by Landlord in order for Landlord to
              evaluate the financial position of Arlington, the properties and
              the Guarantor.

         6.   Concerning the sale of the hotels subject to the Property Leases,
              Tenant shall prepare on a good faith basis and present to Landlord
              a plan for pricing, listing and selling such hotels, the terms of
              which may be incorporated into any modification of the Property
              Leases and Master Agreement entered into between the parties
              during the term of this Letter Agreement. Pending the finalization
              of any such plan, Tenant will present to Landlord all offers
              received on said hotels, if

<PAGE>
Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.)
c/o Arlington Hospitality, Inc.
(f/k/a Amerihost Properties, Inc.)
March 11, 2004
Page 3

              any, which are received directly from any prospective purchaser or
              through any broker inquiries, whether or not listed with such
              broker, together with Tenant's written recommendation on the
              action to be taken in connection with such offer.

         7.   Landlord, Tenant and Guarantor will comply with all other
              provisions of and obligations under the Master Agreement, the
              Property Leases, and any other agreements between Tenant,
              Guarantor and Landlord, including, without limitation, keeping all
              other payments required under such documents current.

         Nothing herein shall be deemed to preclude Landlord from exercising any
of its rights and remedies under the Property Leases and/or the Master Agreement
upon the expiration of this Letter Agreement.

         Please indicate your acceptance of the terms hereof by signing a copy
of this letter in the space provided below and returning one executed
counterpart to Jan F. Salit of PMC Commercial Trust.

                                               Very truly yours,

                                               PMC COMMERCIAL TRUST

                                               By: /s/ LANCE B. ROSEMORE
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                   Name:  Lance B. Rosemore
                                                   Title: President

<PAGE>

Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.)
c/o Arlington Hospitality, Inc.
(f/k/a Amerihost Properties, Inc.)
March 11, 2004
Page 4

ACCEPTED AND AGREED THIS 17th DAY OF MARCH, 2004:

ARLINGTON INNS, INC.
(f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.)

By: /s/ JERRY H. HERMAN
   ----------------------------------
   Name:  Jerry H. Herman
        -----------------------------
   Title: President
         ----------------------------

By: /s/ JAMES B. Dale
   ----------------------------------
   Name:  James B. Dale
        -----------------------------
   Title: Secretary
         ----------------------------

ARLINGTON HOSPITALITY, INC.
(f/k/a Amerihost Properties, Inc.)

By: /s/ JERRY H. HERMAN
   ----------------------------------
   Name:  Jerry H. Herman
        -----------------------------
   Title: President
         ----------------------------

By: /s/ JAMES B. Dale
   ----------------------------------
   Name:  James B. Dale
        -----------------------------
   Title: Secretary
         ----------------------------

<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE 1

1.   Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 1611 Range Road, Port
     Huron, Michigan 48074

2.   Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 400 Orbiting Drive,
     Mosinee, Wisconsin 54455

3.   Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 1726 Lake Avenue, Storm
     Lake, Iowa 50588

4.   Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 625 Spicer Drive,
     Tupelo, Mississippi 38801

5.   Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 2055 E. Lincolnway,
     Wooster, Ohio 44691

6.   Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 789 East Milltown Road,
     Wooster, Ohio 44691

7.   Lease Agreement dated March 23, 1999 between PMCT Sycamore, L.P. and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 1475 South Peace Road,
     Sycamore, Illinois 60178

8.   Lease Agreement dated March 23, 1999 between PMCT Macomb, L.P. and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 1646 N. Lafayette
     Expressway, Macomb, Illinois 61455

9.   Lease Agreement dated March 5, 1999 between PMCT Plainfield, L.P. and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 6105 Cambridge Way,
     Plainfield, Indiana 46168

10.  Lease Agreement dated March 5, 1999 between PMCT Marysville, L.P.) and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 16520 Allenby Drive,
     Marysville, Ohio 43040

11.  Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 567 East Highway 38,
     Rochelle, Illinois 61068

<PAGE>

12.  Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 1100 North Grand Avenue,
     Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 52641

13.  Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 14774 Laplaisance Road,
     Monroe, Michigan 48161

14.  Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 951 South Central
     Expressway, McKinney, Texas 75070

15.  Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 465 Vann Drive, Jackson,
     Tennessee 38305

16.  Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 2171 Holton Court,
     Walker, Michigan 49544

17.  Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 7625 Caterpillar Court,
     Grand Rapids, Michigan 49548

18.  Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 100 North Park Court,
     Stockbridge, Georgia 30281

19.  Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 1040 O'Malley Drive,
     Coopersville, Michigan 49404

20.  Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 741 US 250 East,
     Ashland, Ohio 44805

21.  Lease Agreement dated June 30, 1998 between PMC Commercial Trust and
     Arlington Inns, Inc. (f/k/a Amerihost Inns, Inc.) with respect to the
     property known as the AmeriHost Inn and located at 5130 S. Cobb Drive,
     Smyrna, Georgia 30082

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