get one's goat (1906)

[Laurence Horn]

On Oct 3, 2014, at 8:13 PM, Bonnie Taylor-Blake wrote:

> 
> 
> 2. "The practice of keeping a goat among a heard of cows to prevent
> abortion is by no means confined to Leicestershire.  It must be a
> Billy goat, and the more it stinks the better.  How the charm works
> nobody knows.  Since I introduced a he-goat among my shorthorns,
> abortions have ceased.  Previously it was very troublesome." --
> Gloucestershire N&Q (1910).
> 

Maybe someone should suggest they try this kinder and gentler approach in Texas, instead of closing down all the clinics that provide abortions, leading to all those court cases.  Of course, they're more known for their herds of longhorns than shorthorns there.

LH
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