This　paper　presents　an　algorithm　based　on　mathematical　morphology　to　separate　overlapping　objects　automatically,　which　locates　their　linking　points　by　distance　transform　and　dilation.　It　develops　the　design　and　implementation　of　the　approach.　In　particular,　it　applies　the　technique　to　the　problem　of　separating　liver　cells　in　hepatitis　pathology　images.　The　experiments　show　that　the　technique　is　fast　and　the　separated　results　are　satisfactory.