Sago. Sago. (Not officinal.) The fecula of the stem of Sagus laevis, and other species of palm; Lin. Syst., Monoecia hexandria: native of the East Indies.

Description. Sago of the shops is of two kinds; the first variety, in very fine grains, is known as pearl sago; in the second, or common sago, the grains are much larger and coarser.

Prop. & Comp. It consists principally of starch. Under the miscroscope the granules are found smaller than those of potato starch, the hilum is circular, breaking with a single slit, or in a stellate manner, and the circular rugas are much less marked.

Therapeutics. It is easily digested, and nutritive; chiefly used as an amylaceous diet for convalescents.