shotgun method
v.— «The shotgun method used to be used. The doctor poured a great number of different herbs into a glass on the theory that some of them would do some good.» —“Edwards Was Re-Elected” Lincoln Daily News (Nebraska) June 12, 1916. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
In 1916, a small-town newspaper in Pennsylvania printed a fanciful item about a local gathering with a guest list that included, among others, Miss Ella Vader, Mr. Ray Zor, and other punny names. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...
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