IMPROVEMENT, rights. An addition of some useful thing to a machine, manufacture or composition of matter.

2. The patent law of July 4, 1836, authorizes¹ the granting of a patent for any new and useful improvement on any art, machine manufacture or composition of matter. Sect². 6. It is often very difficult to say what is a new and useful improvement, the cases often approach very near to each other. In the present improved state of machinery³, it is almost impracticable not to employ the same elements of motion, and in some particulars, the same manner of operation, to produce any new effect. 1 Gallis. 478; 2 Gallis. 51. See 4 B. & Ald. 540; 2 Kent, Com. 370.

IMPUBER, civil law. One who is more than seven years old, or out of infancy⁴, and who has not attained⁵ the age of an adult, (q. v.) and who is not yet in his puberty that is, if a boy, till he has attained his full age of fourteen years, and, if a girl, her full age of twelve years. Domat, Liv. Prel. t. 2, s. 2, n. 8.

IMPUNITY⁶. Not being punished for a crime or misdemeanor committed. The impunity of crimes is one of the most prolific⁷ sources whence they arise. lmpunitas continuum affectum tribuit delinquenti. 4 Co. 45, a; 5 Co. 109, a.

IMPUTATION⁸. The judgment⁹ by which we declare that an agent is the cause of his free action, or of the result of it, whether good or ill. Wolff, 3.

IMPUTATION OF PAYMENT. This term is used in Louisiana to signify the appropriation¹⁰ which is made of a payment, when the debtor¹¹ owes two debts to the creditor¹². Civ. Code of Lo. art. 2159 to 2262. See 3 N. S. 483; 6 N. S. 28; Id. 113: Poth. Ob. n. 539, 565, 570; Durant. Des Contr. Liv. 3, t. 3, 3, n. 191; 10 L. R. 232, 352; 7 Toull. n. 173, p. 246.

IN ALIO LOCO. In another place. Vide Cepit in alio loco.

IN ARTICULO MORTIS. In the article of death; at the point of death. As to the effect of this condition on wills, see Nuncupative; as to the testimony¹³ of such person, see Dying declarations.

IN AUTRE DROIT. In another's right. An executor, administrator¹⁴ or trustee, is said to have the property confided¹⁵ to him in such character, in autre droit.

IN BLANK. This is generally applied¹⁶ to indorsements, as, indorsements in blank, which is one not restricted, made by the indorser simply writing his name. See Indorsement.

IN CHIEF. Evidence is said to be in chief when it is given in support of the case opened by the leading counsel. Vide To Open - Opening. The term is used to distinguish evidence of this nature from evidence obtained on a cross-examination. (q. v.) 3 Chit. 890. By evidence in chief is sometimes meant that evidence, which is given in contradistinction to evidence which is obtained on the witness voir dire¹⁷.

2. Evidence in chief should be confined to such matters as the pleadings and the opening warrant, and a departure from this rule, will be sometimes highly inconvenient¹⁸, if not fatal. Suppose, for example, that two assaults have been committed, one in January and the other. in February, and the plaintiff prove his cause of action to have been the assault in January, he cannot abandon that, and afterwards prove another committed in February unless the pleadings and openings extend to both. 1 Campb R. 473. See also, 6 Carr. & P. 73; S. C. 25 E. C. L. R. 288; 1 Mood. & R. 282.