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porcupine
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Mythology & Folklore
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207 days ago
Mirriam's Answer
THE "RULE OF THUMB" WAS DERIVED FROM A 1782 JUDGE'S PROCLAMATION THAT THE 'HUSBAND OF A NAGGING WIFE...COULD LEGALLY BEAT HER AT HOME PROVIDED THE STICK HE USED WAS NO THICKER THAN A MAN'S THUMB'. THE BRITISH LAW EXPLICITLY SUPPORTED AND UPHELD THE HUSBAND WHO PHYSICALLY CHASTISED HIS WIFE UNTIL 1891 ALTHOUGH AS RECENTLY AS IN 1915 IT WAS REITERATED IN LONDON BY A POLICE MAGISTRATE. [see Kashani, et al.1992; Wilson, 1983:84; Campbell and Humphreys, 1984; 1993 as some reference sources]
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