


                                                                      Exhibit 24


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned hereby authorizes and appoints William G. Little and John A.
Vigna, and each of them, as her attorneys-in-fact to sign on her behalf and in
her capacity as a director of The West Company, Incorporated, and to file, the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
and all amendments, exhibits and supplements thereto.


Date: March 6, 1998                         /s/ Tenley E. Albright, M.D.
      -------------                             ------------------------
                                                Tenley E. Albright, M.D.


                                      145

<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned hereby authorizes and appoints William G. Little and John Vigna,
and each of them, as his attorneys-in-fact to sign on his behalf and in his
capacity as a director of The West Company, Incorporated, and to file, the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
and all amendments, exhibits and supplements thereto.


Date: March 6, 1998                         /s/ John W. Conway
      -------------                             --------------
                                                John W. Conway


                                      146

<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned hereby authorizes and appoints William G. Little and John A.
Vigna, and each of them, as his attorneys-in-fact to sign on his behalf and in
his capacity as a director of The West Company, Incorporated, and to file, the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
and all amendments, exhibits and supplements thereto.


Date: March 6, 1998                         /s/ G. W. Ebright
      -------------                             -----------------
                                                George W. Ebright


                                      147

<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned hereby authorizes and appoints William G. Little and John A.
Vigna, and each of them, as his attorneys-in-fact to sign on his behalf and in
his capacity as a director of The West Company, Incorporated, and to file, the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
and all amendments, exhibits and supplements thereto.


Date: March 7, 1997                          /s/ L. Robert Johnson
      -------------                              -----------------
                                                 L. Robert Johnson


                                      148

<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned hereby authorizes and appoints John A. Vigna, as his
attorney-in-fact to sign on his behalf and in his capacity as Chief Executive
Officer and a director of The West Company, Incorporated, and to file, the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
and all amendments, exhibits and supplements thereto.


Date: March 6, 1998                          /s/ William G. Little
      -------------                          ---------------------
                                                 William G. Little


                                      149

<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned hereby authorizes and appoints William G. Little and John A.
Vigna, and each of them, as his attorneys-in-fact to sign on his behalf and in
his capacity as a director of The West Company, Incorporated, and to file, the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
and all amendments, exhibits and supplements thereto.


Date: March 6, 1998                          /s/ William H. Longfield
      -------------                              --------------------
                                                 William H. Longfield


                                      150

<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned hereby authorizes and appoints William G. Little and John A.
Vigna, and each of them, as his attorneys-in-fact to sign on his behalf and in
his capacity as a director of The West Company, Incorporated, and to file, the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
and all amendments, exhibits and supplements thereto.


Date: March 6, 1998                          /s/ J. P. Neafsey
      -------------                          -------------------
                                                 John P. Neafsey


                                      151

<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned hereby authorizes and appoints William G. Little and John A.
Vigna, and each of them, as his attorneys-in-fact to sign on his behalf and in
his capacity as a director of The West Company, Incorporated, and to file, the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
and all amendments, exhibits and supplements thereto.


Date: March 6, 1998                          /s/ Monroe E. Trout
      -------------                          -------------------------
                                                 Monroe E. Trout, M.D.


                                      152

<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned hereby authorizes and appoints William G. Little and John A.
Vigna, and each of them, as his attorneys-in-fact to sign on his behalf and in
his capacity as a director of The West Company, Incorporated, and to file, the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
and all amendments, exhibits and supplements thereto.


Date: March 6, 1998                          /s/ Anthony Welters
      -------------                          -------------------
                                                 Anthony Welters


                                      153

<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned hereby authorizes and appoints William G. Little and John A.
Vigna, and each of them, as his attorneys-in-fact to sign on his behalf and in
his capacity as a director of The West Company, Incorporated, and to file, the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
and all amendments, exhibits and supplements thereto.


Date: March 6, 1998                          /s/ J. Roffe Wike, II
      -------------                          ---------------------
                                                 J. Roffe Wike, II


                                      154

<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


The undersigned hereby authorizes and appoints William G. Little and John A.
Vigna, and each of them, as his attorneys-in-fact to sign on his behalf and in
his capacity as a director of The West Company, Incorporated, and to file, the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
and all amendments, exhibits and supplements thereto.


Date: March 6, 1998                          /s/ Geoffrey F. Worden
      -------------                              -------------------
                                                 Geoffrey F. Worden


                                      155

<PAGE>
