Acquisitions, Actual Results from Alliance Boots Operations Included in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2016	May 31, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	May 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Net earnings per common share [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ 0.95	$ 1.02	$ 0.86	$ 1.02	$ 0.02	$ 1.19	$ 1.96	$ 0.90	$ 3.85	$ 4.05
Diluted (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ 0.95	$ 1.01	$ 0.85	$ 1.01	$ 0.02	$ 1.18	$ 1.93	$ 0.89	$ 3.82	$ 4.00
Aggregate purchase price net of cash received										$ 0	$ 4,461	$ 0
Goodwill										23	14,972
Alliance Boots [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales											22,470
Net earnings											$ 853
Net earnings per common share [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)											$ 0.82
Diluted (in dollars per share)											$ 0.81
Intangible assets													$ 11,691
Other Acquisitions and Divestitures [Member]
Net earnings per common share [Abstract]
Aggregate purchase price net of cash received										126	$ 371
Goodwill										23	126
Intangible assets		$ 95				$ 255				$ 95	$ 255

[1] To improve comparability, certain classification changes have been made to fiscal 2016 for the quarterly periods ended November 30, 2015, February 29, 2016, and May 31, 2016 and to fiscal 2015 for the quarterly periods ended February 29, 2015, May 31, 2015, and August 31, 2015 to Sales, Cost of sales and Selling, general and administrative expenses. This change has no impact on Operating Income.