Income Statement [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Revenue Revenues, Total 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 Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other - net, expense (income) Other - net, expense (income) 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 (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest, Total Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income taxes Net income Net income (loss) Net income Earnings (loss) per share - basic and diluted Earnings (loss) per share - basic and diluted Earnings per share - basic and diluted Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid Dividends paid per share Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic [Abstract] Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic, Total Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT MARCH 31 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 $115.0 (2010) and $109.9 (2009) Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Other receivables Inventories Inventory, Net, Total Deferred income taxes (DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent) Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Total Prepaid Expense, Current Prepaid expenses Total current assets Assets, Current, Total OTHER ASSETS Investments Long-term Investments, Total Goodwill and other intangibles - net Goodwill and other intangibles - net Sundry Sundry Total other assets Assets, Noncurrent, Total PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT Land, buildings, equipment, and construction-in-progress Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Total Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Less accumulated depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Ending Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Beginning Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property and Equipment, net Total Assets Total assets LIABILITIES AND SHAREHODLERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES Short-term borrowings Short-term Borrowings, 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 Taxes Payable, Current, Total Other current liabilities Other current liabilities Total current liabilities Total current liabilities OTHER LIABILITIES Long-term debt Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities, Total Accrued retirement benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Long-term income taxes payable Deferred income taxes (DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent) Deferred income taxes Other noncurrent liabilities Other noncurrent liabilities Total noncurrent liabilities Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total 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 Common stock held in trust (Rabbi Trust). Employee benefit trust Deferred costs-ESOP 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 Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Noncontrolling interests Shareholders' Equity, Including Treasury Shares. Also includes noncontrolling interest. Balance is prior to deduction of common stock in treasury. Shareholders' equity, including treasury shares Less cost of common stock in treasury; 2009 - 882,340 shares; 2008 - 888,998 shares 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 Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Accounts receivable, allowances Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities: Net marketing investigation charges accrued (paid) Net marketing investigation charges accrued paid Net marketing investigation charges paid Other changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions Other changes in operating assets and liabilities Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total Change in deferred taxes Change in deferred taxes Stock-based compensation expense Stock-based compensation expense Share-based Compensation, Total 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 Gains and other income producing transactions as well as other losses and other expenses that result in no cash inflows or outflows in the period in which they occur, but increase net income and thus are subtracted (removed) when calculating net cash flow from operating activities using the indirect method. This element is used when there is not a more specific and appropriate element. Other net Other, net Other, net Other, net 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 Net purchases of property and equipment Net purchases of property and equipment Payments for (Proceeds from) Productive Assets, Total 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 Sale and Maturity of Other Investments, Total Purchases of noncurrent investments Purchases of noncurrent investments 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 Other, net (PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities) Other, net Other, net Other, net NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) INVESTING ACTIVITIES Net Cash Provided by (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 NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Total Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Other comprehensive loss, net of tax Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income Segment Information [Abstract] Segment Information [Abstract] Segment Information [Text Block] Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Basis of Presentation [Text Block] New Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract] New Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract] Implementation of New Financial Accounting Pronouncements [Text Block] Acquisitions [Abstract] Acquisitions [Abstract] Acquisitions [Text Block] Collaborations [Abstract] Collaborations [Abstract] Collaborations [Text Block] Asset Impairments, Restructuring, and Other Special Charges [Abstract] Asset Impairments, Restructuring, And Other Special Charges [Abstract] Asset Impairments, Restructuring, And Other Special Charges [Text Block] Financial Instruments and Investments [Abstract] Financial Instruments [Abstract] Financial Instruments [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation [Text Block] Shareholders' Equity [Abstract] Shareholders' Equity [Abstract] Shareholders' Equity [Text Block] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Taxes [Text Block] Retirement Benefits [Abstract] Retirement Benefits [Abstract] Retirement Benefits [Text Block] Contingencies [Abstract] Contingencies [Abstract] Contingencies [Text Block] Other-Net, Expense (Income) [Abstract] Other-Net, Expense (Income) [Abstract] Other - Net, Expense (Income) [Text Block] Document Information [Abstract] Document Information [Abstract] Document Information [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Information [Abstract] Entity Information [Abstract] Entity Information [Line Items] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Statement, Scenario [Axis] Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Scenario, Actual [Member] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Parent Company [Member]