350 ANATOMY OF THE DOG. 
The fore-feet are generally provided with five toes, and the hind 
with four, all furnished with strong nails that are not retractile. 
he inner toe on the fore-feet is more or less rudimental, and is 
called the dew-claw ; while there is also sometimes present in the 
hind-foot a claw in the same situation still more rudimental, 
inasmuch as there is often no bony connection with the metatarsal 
bone. This also is called the dew-claw, when present. 
THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM. 
The muscles of the dog have nothing remarkable about them, 
excepting that they are renewed and wasted faster than in most 
animals. This has passed into a proverb, and should be known 
as influencing the time which dogs take to recruit their strength. 
THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM. 
The nervous system is highly developed in those breeds which 
have been carefully attended to, that is, where individuals of high 
nervous sensibility have been selected to breed from. This is 
therefore remarkable in the bulldog, selected for generations for 
courage; in the pointer, where steadiness in pointing has been 
the prominent cause of choice; and in the greyhound, whose 
characteristic is speed; all requiring a high development of the 
nervous system, and all particularly liable to nervous diseases, 
such as fits, chorea, &c. On the other hand, the cur, the common 
sheep-dog, &c., seldom suffer from any disease whatever. 
THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM, 
The stomach of this animal is extremely powerful in dissolying 
bones, but it is also very liable to sickness, and on the slightest 
disturbance rejects its contents. This appears to be almost a 
natural effect, and not a diseased or disordered condition, as there 
is scarcely a dog which does not wilfully produce vomiting occa- 
sionally by swallowing grass. Few medicines which are at all 
irritating will remain down, and a vast number which are supposed 
to be given are not retained on the stomach, while others are only 
