(a) The jury shall be sworn to make the whole inquiry and assessment but may be allowed to return a verdict, as to part, and be discharged as to the rest, at the discretion of the court.
(b) In case the jury shall be discharged from rendering a judgment in whole or in part, another jury shall be impaneled at the earliest convenient time, who shall take the whole inquiry and assessment, or the part not made, as the case may be.