HISTORY OF SAGO. 
215 
comparative examination of the different species of sago, cha- 
racters that can be of service in choosing them; and finally, to 
fix the attention of pharmacologists upon the substance 
deposited in the Museum of Natural History in Paris, by M. 
Poiteau, under the name of Sago of Cayenne. The first 
paragraph is devoted to very interesting details upon the 
period of the introduction of sago into France and of its 
consumption, from that time, until the present. 
Although pharmacologists generally concede that its intro- 
duction dates from 1730, M. Planche regards it as certain, 
that it was several years before this period, that this feculent 
matter was known. He is supported in this statement by 
an autograph letter of the Marechal de Noailles, dated Philis- 
bourg 1734, — in which mention is made of sago which was 
sent by the Marechal to a lady of Manchy, his relation, 
recommending it to her as a specific in diseases of the 
chest. 
The first species of sago, or at least, that most anciently 
known with us, is the sago of the Maldives. It was first 
designated by the name of China sago; but was soon confound- 
ed with that of the Moluccas, and sold as such, when the 
Dutch, for a long time established at Amboyna, where they 
had exclusive possession of the commerce in this commodity, 
thought the moment favourable to put the sago of the Moluccas 
into circulation. 
Still later, other species of sago have been brought from 
different countries of India and elsewhere, always under the 
name of Molucca sago, although they differ in many properties 
which will be indicated when each species comes before 
us. 
The period when sago was most in vogue in France was 
from 1772 until 1784. From this until 1825 the estimation 
in which it was held diminished, but to date from 1825 to 
1835 exclusively, it has successively increased; which is 
shown by the following table, the accuracy of which is vouch- 
ed for by M. Planche. 
