Experimental Injuries of the Eye Caused by a Tear Gas Pen Gun Loaded with Ortho-Chlorobenzalmalononitrile

The wounding effects and lesions of the eye resulting from tear gas pen guns and other tear gas devices have been reported recently [1,2,3]. The tear gas devices, however, were usually loaded with chloroacetophenone (CN). Recent articles [4,5] describe the eye lesions resulting from spraying a solution of ortho-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (CS) into the eyes of rabbits and man. Eye injuries caused by the discharge of tear gas pen guns loaded with CS, however, have not been considered previously, and a review of the medical literature disclosed no reports of injuries of this type.