Document & Entity Information [Abstract] Document & Entity Information [Abstract] Document Information [Table] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Statement [Table] Revenue Revenue Cost of sales Cost of sales Cost of Goods Sold, Total Research and development Research and development Research and Development Expense, Total Marketing, selling, and administrative Marketing, selling, and administrative Selling, General and Administrative Expense, Total The amount of purchased research and development assets that are acquired in a business combination and/or licensing arrangement that have no alternative future use and are therefore written off in the period of acquisition. Acquired in-process research and development Acquired in-process research and development Asset impairments, restructuring, and other special charges Asset impairments, restructuring, and other special charges Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions, Total Other - net, expense Other - net, expense (income) Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total Other-net, expense Cost of sales, operating expenses, and other-net Cost of sales, operating expenses, and other-net Cost of sales, operating expenses, and other-net Cost of sales, operating expenses, and other-net Income before income taxes Income before income taxes Income taxes Income taxes Net income Net income (loss) Net income Earnings per share - basic and diluted Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Total Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) Assets Abstract Assets Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents at September 30 Cash and cash equivalents at January 1 Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Short-term investments Short-term Investments, Total Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $110.1 (2011) and $79.9 (2010) Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Other receivables Inventories Inventories Prepaid taxes Prepaid expenses and other Prepaid expenses Prepaid expenses Assets, Current, Total Total current assets Other Assets Investments Long-term Investments, Total Goodwill and other intangibles - net Goodwill and other intangibles - net Sundry Sundry Assets, Noncurrent, Total Total other assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property and equipment, net Goodwill Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill, Beginning Balance Goodwill, Total Assets Total assets Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current Liabilities Short-term borrowings Short-term Debt, Total Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Employee compensation Employee-related Liabilities, Current, Total Sales rebates and discounts Sales rebates and discounts Dividends payable Income taxes payable Income taxes payable Taxes Payable, Current, Total Other current liabilities Other current liabilities Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Other Liabilities Long-term debt Long-term debt Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities, Total Accrued retirement benefit Accrued retirement benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Long-term income taxes payable Other noncurrent liabilities Other noncurrent liabilities Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Total other liabilities Shareholders' Equity Common stock Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Employee benefit trust Employee benefit trust Deferred costs-ESOP Deferred costs-ESOP Deferred costs-ESOP Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated other comprehensive income loss Noncontrolling interests Noncontrolling interests Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Noncontrolling interests Less cost of common stock in treasury Cost of common stock in treasury, 853 shares (2011) and 864 shares (2010) Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Less cost of common stock in treasury Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Total shareholders' equity Liabilities and Equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Accounts receivable, allowances Accounts receivable, allowances Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance Authorized shares, shares in thousands Issued shares, shares in thousands Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common stock shares in treasury, shares in thousands Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities [Abstract] Cash Flows from Operating Activities Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total Change in deferred income taxes Changes in deferred income taxes Change in deferred income taxes Stock-based compensation expense Stock-based compensation expense Share-based Compensation, Total Impairment charges, indefinite lived intangibles Research and development assets that are acquired in a business combination and/or licensing arrangement that have no alternative future use and are therefore written off in the period of acquisition, net of tax Acquired in-process research and development, net of tax Acquired in-process research and development, net of tax Acquired in-process research and development, net of tax Net marketing investigation charges accrued (paid) Net marketing investigation charges accrued paid Net marketing investigation charges paid Net marketing investigation charges paid Other operating activities, net Other Operating Activities, Cash Flow Statement Other Operating Activities, Cash Flow Statement Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions Receivables - (increase) decrease Receivables - (increase) decrease Inventories - (increase) decrease Inventories - (increase) decrease Inventories - (increase) decrease Other Assets - (increase) decrease Other Assets - (increase) decrease Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets, Total Accounts payable and other liabilities - increase (decrease) Accounts payable and other liabilities - (decrease) Accounts payable and other liabilities - increase (decrease) Accounts payable and other liabilities - increase (decrease) NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash Flows from Investing Activities Purchases of property and equipment Purchases of property and equipment Disposals of property and equipment Net change in short-term investments Net change in short-term investments Payments for (Proceeds from) Short-term Investments, Total Proceeds from sales and maturities of noncurrent investments Proceeds from sales and maturities of noncurrent investments Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Other Investments, Total Purchases of noncurrent investments Purchases of noncurrent investments Purchase of product rights Purchase of product rights The amount of purchased research and development assets that are acquired in an in-licensing arrangement and have no alternative future use and are therefore written off in the period of acquisition. Purchase of in-process research and development Purchase of in-process research and development Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired Cash paid for acquisition Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired Loan to collaboration partner Proceeds from Collection of (Payments to Fund) Long-term Loans to Related Parties, Total Payments for Proceeds From Other Investing Activities Other investing activities, net Other investing activities, net Other, net NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES Net Cash Used for Investing Activities Net Cash Used in Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash Flows from Financing Activities Dividends paid Dividends paid Payments of Dividends, Total Net change in short-term borrowings Proceeds from (Repayments of) Short-term Debt, Total Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt Repayment of long-term debt Repayment of long-term debt Repayment of long-term debt Other financing activities, net Other financing activities, net Other financing activities, net Other, net NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES Net Cash Used in Financing Activities Effect of exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Other comprehensive income (loss) Foreign currency translation gains (losses) before tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss), before Reclassification and Tax, Total Net unrealized gains (losses) on securities Net unrealized losses on securities Defined benefit pension and retiree health benefit plans Defined benefit pension and retiree health benefit plans Defined benefit pension and retiree health benefit plans Effective portion of cash flow hedges Effective portion of cash flow hedges Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax Provision for income taxes related to other comprehensive income (loss) items Provision for income taxes related to other comprehensive income (loss) items Provision for income taxes related to other comprehensive income (loss) items Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Basis of Presentation [Text Block] Implementation of New Financial Accounting Pronouncements[Abstract] New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Table] Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Text Block] Acquisitions [Abstract] Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table] Definition: Description of a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) OR OTHER ACQUISITION (e.g. license or asset) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure (including data and tables) regarding business combinations, including leverage buyout transactions (as applicable). Acquisitions Text Block New Acquisitions [Text Block] Collaborations Schedule of Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Table] Collaborations [Text Block] Asset Impairments, Restructuring, and Other Special Charges [Abstract] Component of Other Operating Cost and Expense [Table] Asset Impairments, Restructuring, And Other Special Charges [Text Block] Financial Instruments [Abstract] Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table] Financial Instruments [Text Block] Goodwill and Other Intangibles [Abstract] Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Table] Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Borrowings [Abstract] Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract] Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Table] Stock-Based Compensation [Text Block] n/a Other Assets and Other Liabilities [Abstract] Description of fluctuations in other assets and other liabilties not disclosed elsewhere. Other Assets and Other Liabilities [Text Block] Shareholders' Equity [Abstract] Schedule of Stock by Class [Table] Shareholders' Equity [Text Block] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Table] Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Income Taxes [Abstract] Federal Income Tax Note [Table] Income Taxes [Text Block] Retirement Benefits [Abstract] Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table] Retirement Benefits [Text Block] Contingencies [Abstract] Loss Contingencies [Table] Contingencies [Text Block] Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract] Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Text Block] Other-Net, Expense [Abstract] Other - Net, Expense (Income) [Text Block] Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block] Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block] Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block] Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block] Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies, Policy [Policy Text Block] Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block] Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block] Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block] Description of Derivative Risk Management Policy Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Table Text Block] Products and Services [Axis] Products And Services [Domain] Products and Services [Domain]