The Story Behind The Pepper Spray

A K · 2020-06-16T04:27:56+00:00

The Story Behind The Pepper SprayToday, the pepper spray is an indispensable self-defense tool, especially to women. But women are not the only ones who use it. In fact, it was approved for use by civilians after the FBI found it an effective tool to control unruly mobs without causing irreparable damage. Have you ever wondered about whose idea it was to use pepper sprays as weapons.Here’s the story…The use of chemicals rather than violence, in self defense has a long and interesting history. As far back as 428 BC, the Spartans used a combination of burnt wood and sulfur to produce toxic fumes that kept enemies at bay.The earliest known pepper spray was invented by the ancient Chinese. They flung wrapped, powdered chili pepper on their opponents faces. Sometime during the mid 19th century, the Japanese police of the Tukagawa Empire came up with an innovative box that could spray pepper into their opponents’ eyes. They dubbed it “Mitsubishi”.It is the Mitsubishi that has evolved into the modern day self defense spray. Oleoresin Capsaicin (OC) is the environment friendly ingredient used in this spray. Meant to be sprayed on the opponent’s eyes, it causes pain, tears and momentary blindness, effectively incapacitating the attacker be it human or animal. The modern day version was developed by Dr. Frank Hayes and Prof. James H. Jenkins in 1960. It was first used by the FBI as a non-violent way to control violent mobs.Research has shown that these sprays can been used to prevent animal attack. The Postal Service of the US issues dog pepper sprays to its personnel delivering letters to protect themselves against dog attacks. They are used in Alaska to effectively stop bear attacks.

Jun 16, 2020 Last reply: 6 years ago 29 Replies

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Frank 6 years ago

I actually did it to a second dog. I was cycling up a very steep hill and a dog came walking beside me and I thought nothing of it until he wrapped his teeth around my ankle. I blasted him and when he ran ahead to rub his face in the grass at the side of the road, I blasted the other end.

I had a can of chemical tear gas and found that it did not effect dogs. I sprayed one and he just licked it like nothing happened. I was also with a friend once and sprayed a dog with tear gas. Startled the dog to stop him but also got a bit on my friend. We pulled over to a stream for him to wash his face. He did not like it but was glad I deterred the dog.

Looking up tear gas chemistry I see this: "CS has less effect on animals due to under-developed tear-ducts and protection by fur." It is also more toxic than pepper spray.

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Muggles 6 years ago

I laughed, so go ahead and laugh with me...k? I don't wanna be the only one laughing, now!

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T 6 years ago

Okay. Yes I laughed pretty hard. Gee Wiz, folks are going to thing I am not "sensitive".

When I was in hi skool, a dog would come out and try to bite my on my bicycle. I got pretty nasty. So one day I donned my hiking boots and when he came after me I did a karate side kick right across his mouth. No yelp or anything. I hit him extremely hard. My foot stung for a couple of hours. I was limping. I never heard or saw the dog again. I think I may have killed it. The owners probably think it got hit by a car. Ya, mess with the Toddmobile (the tire tracks look a lot like shoe prints though)!

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Jim Joyce 6 years ago

Technically, is it still considered cycling when you're being overtaken by a walking dog?

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Jim Joyce 6 years ago

I guess I have to allow for the fact that, within the greater cycling public, there's a whole range of fitness levels. I imagine being overtaken by a walking dog puts a person toward one end of that fitness spectrum. It's not my intention to make fun of those people since they are exactly the ones that need to be out there getting some exercise. I applaud them.

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