

DOGS IJV HEALTH. 



GEJVE'R^aL MslJSr^^GEMEJVT. 



Fjbejdij^G. 



Pages have been written on the origin and ancient history of the dog, 

 theories advanced, speculations urged, andyetwe still remain in complete 

 ignorance on the subject. Some contend, in the anatomical structure of 

 certain parts that he resmhles the wolf. There are however, differences 

 to reconcile, before this supposition can be accepted. Others have traced 

 to the fox, and still others to the jackal, each party being satisfied in his 

 own mind of the correctness of his theory, and yet the same differences 

 remain. 



A knowledge of the primitive state and habits of the animal might aid 

 much on this subject, but that being denied us,' we are forced to turn to 

 the anatomical mechanism and natural promptings for guidance. 



It is admitted that the dog belongs to the family of carnivora, or flesh 

 eaters, and a study of his digestive organs verifies this assumption. The 

 instinctive desire of animals for certain substances is a sure indication 

 that they are in reality required for the nutritive process, while the indif- 

 ference or repugnance manifested for others, injurious and valueless, is 

 an equal evidence of their unfitness as articles of food. 



Starch is very abundant in oora, wheat, lye, oats and rice, and in almost 

 all vegetable substances used as food, and during the progress of digestion 

 is converted Into sugar. That these articles alone are an unfit diet, is 

 proven by the experiments of Magendie, who found that dogs fed exclu- 

 sively on starch or sugar perished after a short time with symptoms of 



