214 
SELECTED ARTICLES. 
I am of the opinion of M. Mialhe, relative to the prepa- 
ration of volatile oils, and I even think that, in certain 
cases, by retarding the boiling point of the water, a result 
more advantageous is not obtained, but, moreover, a part of 
the product must be lost. This appears true, at least in the 
preparation of the volatile oil of cherry laurel. In effect, this 
essential oil, although much denser than water, comes over 
from the very first moment that ebullition takes place, and a 
much larger quantity is obtained by making good use of the 
heat. 
Journal de Fharmacie, 
ART. XXXVII.— RESEARCHES TO SERVE AS A HISTORY 
OF SAGO— AND AN EXAMINATION OF THE SUBSTANCE 
CALLED SAGO OF CAYENNE, OBTAINED FROM THE 
SAGO PLANT OF MADAGASCAR.* By M. Planche. Read 
at the Royal Academy of Medicine. Extracted by M. Felix Boudet. 
M. Planche has had in view in this memoir, to clear up 
many points in the history of sago, upon which naturalists and 
chemists are still of opposite opinions; to deduce from the 
proper precautions are taken to guard against them. W^e have preserved 
it in a good state, not only from one year to another, but even for two, 
three, or more years, in very small bottles, well stoppered and placed be- 
yond the ordinary causes of alteration. 
Secondly, Relative to the proposition of M. Faury, we do not think 
that it is possible to substitute for the water of cherry laurel, a solution 
of the volatile oil in distilled water. This will be reverting to the opinion 
of Fourcroy, who proposes to substitute in general for the aromatic dis- 
tilled waters, aqueous solutions of the essential oils, an opinion to which 
therapeutics, a correct practice of pharmacy, and chemistry itself, have 
long since done justice. 
P. A. C. 
* Sagus Poitei. 
