COMPENSATION 115 



avoid technical terms, speaking in the language 

 of the court and jury, so that they may clearly 

 understand him. If it be necessaiy to use tech- 

 nical terms he should be sure himself to explain 

 their meaning in order that the force of his testi- 

 mony may be known. He should not attempt to 

 impress the judge, the jury, or the spectators with 

 his great knowledge and experience. If he at- 

 tempts this he is quite likely to find himself ''hoist 

 with his own petard." He blows himself up like 

 a balloon, which the opposing counsel takes delight 

 in puncturing. On the other hand, it is entirely 

 right that the facts of experience be presented to 

 the court. A veterinarian who has practiced for 

 ten years, especially one who has been working 

 under the directions of the Department of Agri- 

 culture, in Oklahoma, is much more likely to know 

 about the various phases of the Texas cattle fever 

 than one who has been limited in experience to 

 private practice in New England or northern New 

 York. 



86. Duty to Prepare. No professional man 

 should go upon the witness stand to testify as to 

 a matter pertaining to his profession without tak- 

 ing the precaution to see that he is well posted, 

 according to the most recent knowledge of the pro- 

 fession. The veterinarian should be familiar with 

 the approved means of diagnosis, and with the 

 later ideas in pathology, pertaining especially to 

 that particular injury or disease which may be a 

 subject of controversy, either directly or indi- 

 rectly. It is an easy matter for an experienced 

 laAvyer, after a few hours reading of an approver! 

 textbook of medicine or surgerv, to make tlio aver- 



