SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                              (Amendment No.   )*


                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
                 ---------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                           Common Stock, no par value
                 ---------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                  457191 10 4
                 ---------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                 March 1, 1996
                 ---------------------------------------------
            (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

  Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed.
     [   ]  Rule 13d-1(b)
     [ x ]  Rule 13d-1(c)
     [   ]  Rule 13d-1(d)

  *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
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

  The information required on 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).

                        (Continued on following page(s))
                               Page 1 of 6 Pages

 
CUSIP No. 457191 10 4              13G                       Page 2 of 6 Pages
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

(1)  Names of Reporting Persons.  I.R.S. Identification Nos. of Above Persons
     (entities only)

     BAXTER HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
     I.R.S. Identification Number:  36-2999006

     BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
     I.R.S. Identification Number:  36-0781620

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

(2)  Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

     (a)  [   ]
     (b)  [   ]

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

(3)  SEC Use Only

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

(4)  Citizenship or Place of Organization

     Delaware

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Number of Shares        (5) Sole Voting Power
Beneficially Owned                -0-
by Each Reporting        -------------------------------------------
Person With             (6) Shared Voting Power
                                1,335,897
                         -------------------------------------------
                        (7) Sole Dispositive Power
                                  -0-
                        -------------------------------------------
                        (8) Shared Dispositive Power
                                1,335,897

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

(9)  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

     1,335,897
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

(10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See
     Instructions)

     [   ]

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

     8.6%

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

(12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

     CO

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
CUSIP No. 457191 10 4              13G                       Page 3 of 6 Pages



This Schedule 13G relates to the holdings of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, a
Delaware corporation ("Purchaser"), of 1,335,897 shares (the "Shares") of common
stock, no par value, of Inhale Therapeutic Systems, a California corporation.
This Schedule does not report any change in beneficial ownership and is filed
only to report that Purchaser holds the Shares as a passive investor pursuant to
Rule 13d-1(c).

Item 1(a).  Name Of Issuer:

     Inhale Therapeutic Systems

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

     150 Industrial Road
     San Carlos, California  94070

Item 2(a).  Name of Person Filing:

     This statement is being filed by Purchaser and Baxter International Inc., a
     Delaware corporation and the owner of 100% of the capital stock of
     Purchaser ("Parent").

Item 2(b).  Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:

     One Baxter Parkway
     Deerfield, Illinois 60015

Item 2(c).  Citizenship:

     Delaware

Item 2(d).  Title of Class of Securities:

     Common stock, no par value, of Inhale Therapeutic Systems

Item 2(e).  CUSIP Number:

     457191 10 4

 
CUSIP No. 457191 10 4              13G                       Page 4 of 6 Pages



Item 3.  If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or
         (c), check whether filing person is a:
 
         (a)  [  ]   Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act
         (b)  [  ]   Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act
         (c)  [  ]   Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the 
                     Act
         (d)  [  ]   Investment company registered under Section 8 of the 
                     Investment Company Act
         (e)  [  ]   An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 
                     13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)
         (f)  [  ]   An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance
                     with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)
         (g)  [  ]   A parent holding company or control person in accordance 
                     with Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(G)
         (h)  [  ]   A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the 
                     Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.
         (i)  [  ]   A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
                     investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the
                     Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3)
         (j)  [  ]   Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J)

         If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check this 
         box.  [x]

Item 4.  Ownership

         This Schedule does not report any change in beneficial ownership and is
         filed only to report that Purchaser holds the Shares as a passive
         investor pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c).

         (a)  Amount Beneficially Owned:

              1,335,897

         (b)  Percent of Class:

              8.6%
  
         (c)  Number of shares as to which the person has:

              (i)   sole power to vote or direct the vote:  -0-
 
              (ii)  shared power to vote or direct the vote:  1,335,897

              (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:  -0-

CUSIP No. 457191 10 4              13G                       Page 5 of 6 Pages


 
         (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 1,335,897

Item 5.  Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

         If this Schedule is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
         hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of
         more than five percent on the class of securities, check the following
         box. [ ]

Item 6.  Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

         Not applicable.

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

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

         Not applicable.

Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of Group.

         Not applicable.
 
Item 10. Certification.

         By signing below, each of Purchaser and Parent certifies that, to the
         best of their knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above
         were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the
         effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the
         securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with
         or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

 
CUSIP No. 457191 10 4              13G                       Page 6 of 6 Pages



Signature.

     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of their knowledge and belief,
each of Purchaser and Parent certifies that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.

Date:  September 15, 1998


BAXTER HEALTHCARE CORPORATION


By:  /s/ Jan Stern Reed
     --------------------
     Corporate Secretary


BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.


By:  /s/ Jan Stern Reed
     ------------------
     Corporate Secretary