Overall, there doesn't seem to be one concrete answer on this that everyone agrees on, but the following references might shed some light on it for you...

Freyd, J. & Johnson J.Q. (1998). Commentary: Domestic Violence, Folk Etymologies, & "Rule of Thumb". Retrieved May 8, 2008, from http://dynamic.uoregon.edu/~jjf/essays/ruleofthumb.html

• This essay discusses the differences in opinion on the legal history of the term "rule of thumb".

According to:
Service, N. N. (1994, July 26). Word experts overrule; feminists on 'rule of thumb'. Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio), pp. 9E.

• "But the phrase 'rule of thumb,' as it turns out, has more to do with carpentry and beer-making than domestic violence.
  Those who attributed the phrase to an old rule of law that supposedly condoned wife-beating are having second thoughts. The latest capitulation came a few days ago, when Rep. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who often invoked the phrase when talking about domestic violence, started to use it again during a news conference outside the Capitol, then stopped midsentence. He explained that Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., had told him the background of the phrase was 'apocryphal.' Which is a politician's way of saying something is not true."

From:
Feminists' facts challenge questionable, amount to a backlash.(1994, June 20). The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), pp. B06.

• "The 1874 case State vs. Oliver states: ``We assume that the old doctrine that a husband had the right to whip his wife provided that he used a switch no larger than his thumb is not the law in North Carolina.'' This common-law rule was derived from the 177th New Constitution of Roman Emperor Justinian I. See Chapter 14. Thus The Oregonian, Seebach and Sommers are off by 1,447 years."

Rhodes, E. (1991, May 5). Brutality at home has long history. The Seattle Times, pp. A11.

• This source describes the history of wife-beating a bit with a very brief mention of what you're looking for.

Here's the gist of what someone from Rad Ref wrote to this questioner:
If you are in "severe pain" you should seek medical attention from an expert in that field, possibly even at an emergency room of a hospital.
While librarians will gladly help you research many topics, including finding medical or legal background information, we are neither qualified nor ethically allowed to give medical or legal advice in an immediate situation such as you describe.

The Australian Government's Office for Women provides policy information for the Executive branch. Among the research resources on their site can be found a report from WESNET (Women's Services Network) (also accessible from WESNET's research page) that includes a history of Australian women's shelters.
On page 50 of WESNET: Women’s Refuges, Shelters, Outreach and
Support Services in Australia we find:

They have come a long way from Elsie, the Sydney squat which claims its place as Australia’s first ‘official’ contemporary white women’s women’s refuge, or Women’s Liberation Halfway House which opened later in 1974 in Melbourne.

So the Halfway House shouldn't have been in existence when Elsie opened.

(Thanks to Astra for the comment that supplies the research for this answer)

According to your location zipcode, you live in Florida, so this answer will provide information for Florida unemployment benefits.

First of all, the State of Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation site says,"Unemployment insurance provides temporary wage replacement benefits to qualified individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own."

The FAQ (in a Word Doc) provides a great deal of information. I would go to the link for more, but to more briefly answer your questions:

Who qualifies?: "Any individual who has been employed in Florida in the last 18 months and is currently unemployed or partially unemployed can file a claim." There are more requirements, however, which you can check out on the FAQ page.

Fastest way to apply?: This would probably be through Internet or via phone - "A claim for unemployment compensation benefits can be filed using the Internet at www.fluidnow.com. The Internet is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. A claim may also be filed by telephone by calling toll free 1-800-204-2418. The telephone center is open to process claims Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm" All of this and more information is also located on the FAQ page.