_Functions of an Expert Witness Essentially Judicial._—It is the function of an expert witness to reason about facts, to explain their connection with one another, and to draw conclusions and inferences from them. Hence, a witness, however expert in any ordinary sense in his specialty, when he is called upon merely to narrate facts which he has observed, is an ordinary witness, and is governed by the same rules which apply to the ordinary witnesses. When, however, he is called upon, in addition to recounting facts, to explain or interpret them by reference to assumed facts, he becomes properly an expert witness. It thus appears that an expert witness must necessarily perform a part of the duties which devolve upon the court or the jury. His position is, therefore, essentially judicial, except that he has no power to enforce his determinations by judicial process. The importance and responsibility which the law thus confers upon an expert are of the highest character. He ranks the coequal with the tribunal itself in his peculiar province, so far as relates to his individual responsibility. That this should tend to elevate such witnesses to a high social position, and ought to require the most exact and faithful integrity of purpose and statement, is self-evident. _Difference Between Status of Expert Witnesses in France and Germany and in the United States and England._—In some foreign countries, notably in Germany and in France, experts in medico-legal matters have an assured official position, and are generally not allowed to be selected at hap-hazard according to the will or the length of the purse of those who need their services. The consequence of this method of obtaining expert evidence is, that expert witnesses in those countries command a high measure of respect and honor. Unfortunately, however, in this country, where the opposite practice prevails, the weaknesses of human nature are such that the common people, newspapers, lawyers, and even the courts in some recorded opinions and decisions, have come to express a great want of confidence in the weight and value of expert testimony. This deplorable result of a bad system of procedure is universally recognized, yet our State legislatures have as yet refrained from attempting to correct it.