APPENDIX. 185 
portance in the case, are rarely cross-examined. This is 
reserved in its most stringent form for those whose facts and 
opinions are likely to affect the case. In dealing with a 
skilled witness whose evidence may be of importance, the 
questions in cross-examination are usually put by the counsel 
for the defence with great caution, or the answers brought 
out may be even more adverse to his own case than those 
elicited in the examination-in-chief. 
Re-examination. 
The cross-examination is usually followed by a re-exami- 
nation on the part of the counsel for the prosecution, or of 
the counsel by whom the witness has been called. The 
object of this is to clear up or explain any portion of the 
evidence which may have been rendered obscure or doubtful 
by the cross-examination. It is sometimes unnecessary to 
put a question, and if the witness has given his evidence 
consistently and fairly, no questions may be asked. As a 
rule, the re-examination must be confined to those matters 
which have arisen out of the cross-examination. Any ques- 
tions upon new subjects may render a further cross-exami- 
nation on them necessary. In reference to facés, a veterinary 
witness must bear in mind that he should not allow his 
testimony to be influenced by the consequences which may 
follow from his statement of them, or their probable effect 
on any case which is under trial. In reference to opfindons, 
when once formed should be honestly and candidly stated 
without regard to consequences. It will be well to remember, 
in reference to each stage of the examination, what a great 
medical authority has said :—“To make a show and appear 
learned and ingenious in natural knowledge may flatter 
vanity. To know facts, to separate them from supposition, 
to arrange and connect them, to make them plain to ordi- 
nary capacities, and above all to point out their useful 
applications, should be the chief object of ambition.” 
(William Hunter.) 
