-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UyDxFzRWzrELyI9DQKcYRLjOWLSpYMHdqLlDcFD5/rk6ACV+8vjiQG9M1znrpSGQ
 30WjuIka10OJP36mGE26xA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246426-03-000128.txt : 20031125
<SEC-HEADER>0001246426-03-000128.hdr.sgml : 20031125
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031125195013
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246426-03-000128
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031124
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031125

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BECTON DICKINSON & CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000010795
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				220760120
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BECTON DR
		CITY:			FRANKLIN LAKES
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07417-1880
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2018476800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BECTON DR
		CITY:			FRANKLIN LAKE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07417

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COHEN GARY M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001223637

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04802
		FILM NUMBER:		031024331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BD MEDICAL SYSTEMS
		STREET 2:		1 BECTON DR. MC 235
		CITY:			FRANKLIN LAKES
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07417
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2018474442

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BD MEDICAL SYSTEMS
		STREET 2:		1 BECTON DR. MC 235
		CITY:			FRANKLIN LAKES
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07417
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-24</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000010795</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BECTON DICKINSON &amp; CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BDX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001223637</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COHEN GARY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE BECTON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FRANKLIN LAKES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07465</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President - BD Medical</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-24</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4194</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25373</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwner
ship><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10256.83</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>SIP Trust</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>38.775</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-24</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>30000</value></transactionShares
><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-11-24</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-11-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Represents shares awarded under the Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Award Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Shares are held under the Becton, Dickinson and Comp
any Savings Incentive Plan (&quot;SIP&quot;).  The information presented for the SIP is as of October 31, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The option vests in four equal annual installments beginning on November 24, 2004.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Gary DeFazio, as power of attorney for Gary M. Cohen</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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