194 APPENDIX. 
Volunteered Evidence. 
It has been a question whether a witness should volunteer 
evidence, assuming that the examination-in-chief and cross- 
examination have failed to bring out all that he knows of 
the case. If that which he has to state is some matter 
of fact within his own knowledge, or an opinion based on 
facts within his knowledge, he will be allowed, on application 
to the judge, to make the statement in spite of the efforts of 
counsel on either side to shut it out. 
Avoid Technical Terms and Ambiguous Matters. 
It is scarcely necessary to observe that the language in 
which the answers are returned should neither be technical 
nor metaphorical. Counsel who are unacquainted with vete- 
rinary medical terms frequently misapply them, or use them 
in a wrong sense. A judicious witness will avoid anything 
like a triumph over his examiner under such circumstances, 
and simply put him right. 
' An ambiguous answer necessarily leaves the witness’s 
meaning doubtful, and calls for an explanation. An unde- 
cided answer—indicated by the words “I believe,” or “I 
think,” or “It might be,” is not sufficient for evidence. If, 
by a proper consideration of all the medical facts, the witness 
has come to a conclusion on the subject, his answer should 
be expressed in plain and decided language, either in the 
affirmative or negative. A man who has formed no con- 
clusion is not ina position to give evidence. No opinion 
should be given for which the witness is not prepared to 
assign reasons ; and, except by permission of the Court, no 
medical opinion should be expressed on facts or circum- 
stances observed by others. A hesitating witness will be 
met with the question, Have you any doubt about it? or, 
Was it so or not?—to which a reply in the affirmative or 
negative must be given. If the witness fairly entertains 
