Note 183 — Chapter V

This latter case holds that a second expert may be called to testify after the first has been thus challenged, to support his capacity and skill. The contrary rule, however, obtains in Alabama (Tellis v. Kidd., 12 Ala., 643; Pugh v. State, 44 Ala., 33). Neither can an expert be contradicted by books of science; that is, by books of science introduced in evidence as such (Wharton on Evidence, 666, 721). This is so because the rule is well established that books, although of great authority in themselves, may not, even if proven to be such, be placed in evidence. They may, however, be read to the witness, and so be placed upon the record, passage by passage, and the witness may be asked whether he agrees with that doctrine, not, however, as part of his direct examination, but as part of his cross-examination.