Customs laboratories, chemistry and excise: an historical introduction

At the end of July 1882, a strange package arrived at the Madrid Customs laboratory which was under the direction of Gabriel de la Puerta-Ródenas, a Spanish chemist who lived from 1839-1908. Destined for Spain’s Prime Minister, the Spanish authorities, fearing for the Prime Minister’s life, decided to have the package examined. They first turned to the Army laboratory, and then to the School of Mines’ laboratory in Madrid, but both refused to open it.