bromacetone

Lachrymatory (tear) gas, the most widely used tear gas in World War I and one of the most effective. It produces intolerable irritation of the eyes in concentrations of 0.01 mg/l and in heavy concentrations can be lethal while the liquid form produces extremely painful blisters on the skin.

First used by the Germans in artillery shells and mortar bombs under the name ‘B-Stoff’ 1916, it was then adopted by the French as ‘Martonite’ and British and US forces as ‘BA’. It was abandoned by the Germans and British by the end of 1916 since its manufacture required acetone, which was required for other purposes considered more vital. The French and US armies mixed it with chloracetone and continued to use it throughout the war.