SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         Washington, D.C. 20594


                              SCHEDULE 13G

               Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                          (Amendment No. 7 )*



                                    
                                     
                                      
                                       
                                        
                                        

                             (Name of Issuer)

                                    
                                     
                                      
                                       
                                        
                                        

                      (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    
                                     
                                      
                                       
                                        
                                        

                              (CUSIP Number)


Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [ ].
(A fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous
statement on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five
percent of the class of securities described in Item 1: and (2) has
filed no amendment subsequent thereto reporting beneficial ownership of
five percent or less of such class.) (See Rule 13d-7).

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class
of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information
which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not
be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of
the Act (however, see the Notes).



























 1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
     The Capital Group Companies, Inc.
     86-0206507

 2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
        (a) 
        (b) 


 3   SEC USE ONLY




 4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

     Delaware


              5   SOLE VOTING POWER

                  927,520


              6   SHARED VOTING POWER
 NUMBER OF
   SHARES
                  NONE
BENEFICIALL
 Y OWNED BY
              7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
    EACH
 REPORTING
                  7,659,530
PERSON WITH


              8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                  NONE


 9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

     7,659,530   Beneficial ownership disclaimed pursuant to Rule 13d-4


 10  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*




 11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

     4.7%


 12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

     HC


                 * SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!











                   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, DC 20549

                              Schedule 13G
               Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Amendment No.  
                
                 
                  
                   
                   

Item 1(a)   Name of Issuer:
        
         
          
           
            
            

Item 1(b)   Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
        
         
          
           
            
            

Item 2(a)   Name of Person(s) Filing:
       The Capital Group Companies, Inc.

Item 2(b)   Address of Principal Business Office:
       333 South Hope Street
       Los Angeles, CA  90071

Item 2(c)   Citizenship:   N/A

Item 2(d)   Title of Class of Securities:
        
         
          
           
            
            

Item 2(e)   CUSIP Number:
        
         
          
           
            
            

Item 3   The person(s) filing is(are):

       (g)    [X]   Parent Holding Company in accordance with Section
            240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).

Item 4   Ownership

       The Capital Group Companies, Inc. is the parent holding company
       of a group of investment management companies that hold
       investment power and, in some cases, voting power over the
       securities reported in this Schedule 13G. The investment
       management companies, which include a "bank" as defined in
       Section 3(a)6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act")
       and several investment advisers registered under Section 203 of
       the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, provide investment advisory
       and management services for their respective clients which
       include registered investment companies and institutional
       accounts. The Capital Group Companies, Inc. does not have
       investment power or voting power over any of the securities
       reported herein; however, The Capital Group Companies, Inc. may
       be deemed to "beneficially own" such securities by virtue of Rule
       13d-3 under the Act.



       Shares reported by The Capital Group Companies, Inc., includes
       271,040 shares resulting from the assumed conversion of
       $5,675,000 principal amount of the 3.50% Convertible Subordinate
       Note, due 2000.

Item 5   Ownership of 5% or Less of a Class: [X]



Item 6   Ownership of More than 5% on Behalf of Another Person: N/A

Item 7   Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
       Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding
       Company

       1. 
          Capital Research and Management Company is an Investment
          Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment
          Advisers Act of 1940 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of The
          Capital Group Companies, Inc.

       2. 
          Capital Guardian Trust Company is a bank as defined in Section
          3(a)(6) of the Act and a wholly owned subsidiary of The
          Capital Group Companies, Inc.

       3. 
          Capital International Limited (CIL) does not fall within any
          of the categories described in Rule 13d-1-(b)(ii)(A-F) but its
          holdings of any reported securities come within the five
          percent limitation as set forth in a December 15, 1986 no-
          action letter from the Staff of the Securities and Exchange
          Commission to The Capital Group Companies, Inc. CIL is a
          wholly owned subsidiary of Capital Group International, Inc.
          which is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Capital Group
          Companies, Inc.


Item 8   Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:  N/A

Item 9   Notice of Dissolution of the Group:  N/A

Item 10   Certification

       By signing below, I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
       belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the
       ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose
       of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the
       control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in
       connection with or as a participant in any transaction having
       such purpose or effect.

   Signature

       After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
       belief, I certify that the information set forth in this
       statement is true, complete and correct.



        Date:          February 10, 1998


        Signature:     *Larry P. Clemmensen

        Name/Title:    Larry P. Clemmensen, President

                       The Capital Group Companies, Inc.