VETERINARY JURISPRUDENCE. 
547 
Baron (then Mr.) Martin, having sadly mangled the evidence 
of Messrs. Ellis and Proctor, veterinary surgeons of Liverpool, 
by a reference to YouatPs book, 4 The Horse/ when about to 
cross-examine me, began to turn over the leaves of the same 
book to look for his place, when, without his speaking to me, 
I said, 44 You may put that book down.” He replied, 44 Do 
you speak to me?” I said, 44 1 do, and that you may put the 
book down as it is no authority whatever.” He added, 
44 1 suppose there is a book which is an authority, and if so 
tell me its title, and I will send for it.” I replied, 44 If there 
be a book which is an authority it is for you to find it out and 
not for me to tell you ; but I know of no book that is an 
authority, and I will not be booked.” 44 Then I suppose,” he 
said, 44 that you regard Messrs. Ellis and Proctor as 
authorities.” 44 Ellis and Proctor are good authorities,” 
I said ; 44 but you with that book mangled their evidence in 
such a manner as I never witnessed before in a court of law. 
They would have given good evidence on the point at issue 
had you not used the book for the purpose of destroying their 
evidence, and in such a way that they did not know what 
they talked about ; but you shall not mangle mine.” I here 
stretched forth my hand and pointed at him ; but said 
no more. 
Serjeant Wilkins — 44 Then you think my learned friend did 
know what he was talking about?” 44 He certainly did ; but 
his object was to confuse the witnesses and to mangle their 
evidence, and in this he succeeded.” 
Serjeant Wilkins — 44 1 suppose you are authority, Mr. 
Kent ?” 44 While I am in this box I will make it felt that I 
am authority” w T as my answer, 44 although out of it I may be 
no authority whatever.” 
Professor Dick was called by the opposite side, and made 
a great effort to set aside my evidence, but w as not successful. 
The case was one of tubercles and vomica of the liver. 
Professor Dick had heard me say that the liver weighed 
27 lbs., w T as of a light clay-colour, and the texture such that it 
could not hold together to be weighed, except in a scale, 
beyond the edge of w hich none of it projected. 
On this evidence the Professor told the judge that he 
founded his opinion, and stated that it was a case of active 
congestion of the organ, and might have had its origin 
within three days. 
The result, how T ever, was a verdict, founded on my evidence, 
for the plaintiffs. 
You may use this and the report according to your own 
good pleasure. Yours truly, 
John Kent. 
