398 ANATOMY OF THE DOG. 



tooth with two cutting lobes ; and lastly, two flat teeth, or true 

 molars. In the under jaw, the first four molars on each side are 

 false, or cutters ; then an intermediate one, with the posterior part 

 flat ; and lastly, two tubercular teeth, or true molars. As the in- 

 cisors are worn away and the dog becomes old, the lobules on 

 the edges wear away and are flattened (see Figs. 3 and 4). The 

 teeth are developed in two sets ; the first, called milk-teeth, 

 showing themselves through the gums about a fortnight or three 

 weeks after birth, and lasting till the fifth or sixth month, when 

 they are displaced by the permanent set, the growth of which 

 is accompanied by a degree of feverishness which is often mis- 

 taken for distemper. The dog's teeth should be beautifully white, 

 if he is healthy and well reared, and until the third year there 

 should be no deposit of tartar upon them, but after that time they 

 are always coated with this substance at the roots, more or less, ' 

 according to the feeding and state of health. 



The fore feet are generally provided with five toes, and the 

 hind with four, all furnished with strong nails that are not 

 retractile. The inner, toe on the fore feet is more or less rudi- 

 mental, 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. 



