Sunday's Obituary - Lucy Brooks Cabot

[Transcription]
April 5, 1912
MRS. NORMAN F. CABOT
     Mrs. Lucy Brooks Cabot, 86, wife of Norman F. Cabot, died in her home on Terrace Street this morning about 1.45 o'clock after an illness of about six weeks. She was born in Chesterfield, Factory Village, Dec. 13, 1825, and was a daughter of Capt. William S. and Elinor Forman Brooks. Her father was a native of Medford, Mass., and her mother came from Freehold, N.Y. In 1821 her father went to Chesterfield and in 1839 the family came to this town. Following the death of her mother she went south and there met Norman F. Cabot and they were married in Wetumpha [sic, should be Wetumpka], Ala., Dec. 13, 1853. Previous to the Civil war they came to Brattleboro and had since lived here, Mr. Cabot being for many years treasurer of the Vermont Savings Bank.
   She had two brothers and two sisters, all of whom were prominent in the town during their lives. George J. Brooks was the builder of the Brooks House and gave the Brooks library building to the town. The other brother was Francis W. Brooks and the sisters were Mrs. Francis Goodhue and Miss Malvina Brooks. Besides her husband she leaves two daughters, Miss Mary R. Cabot of this town, and Mrs. Frederick Holbrook of Boston, and one son, William Brooks Cabot of Boston.
     The funeral will be held in the home Monday afternoon at 2.30 o'clock. Rev. R.M. Houghton will officiate and the burial will take place in Prospect Hill cemetery. Friends are kindly requested not to send flowers. 

Source: Newspaper clipping, newspaper title and location not included.

© 2011, copyright William C. Haskell

Water Cure Days - Miss Lucy T. Brook's Cure

The Wesselhoeft Water Cure in Brattleboro, Vermont was the third water cure in the country. According to the Annals of Brattleboro by Mary Rogers Cabot, the Water Cure opened in 1843-1844 by Dr. Robert Wesselhoeft. A water cure is a form of hydrotherapy, involving the use of water for pain-relief and treating illness. Water cure's were so popular in the mid-1800's, there was even a Water Cure Journal that was published. Many of the journal volumes can be found on Google Books site, such as this one Volume 1. The Brattleboro Water Cure became extremely popular and was visited by many. Several of the more famous guests to the Brattleboro Water Cure, included: ex-President Martin Van Buren; two sons of John C. Calhoun; and Mr. & Mrs. John Stoddard (Cabot, Mary Rogers. Annals of Brattleboro, vol II, page 573-574)

Source: Cabot, Mary Rogers. 1922. Annals of Brattleboro, vol. II

Source: Cabot, Mary Rogers. 1922. Annals of Brattleboro, vol. II

In my grandmother's records, I found a typewritten page for Miss Lucy T. Brooks' water cure, which is transcribed below:

Miss Brooks will

1. Sweat every morning early in a wet sheet, and after it bathe or wash in water of 72 degrees to 60 degrees.
2. Drink cold water after it and walk until she becomes warm, --before breakfast.
3. Breakfast on cold bread with milk or butter.
4. Walk and drink again after breakfast.
5. At 11 o'clock take a hip-bath from 10 increasing gradually to 30 minutes in water 72 degrees gradually growing colder daily to 30 degrees.
6. Drink again and walk until you get well warmed.
7. Dinner without condiments, pies or rich food. Drink several tumblers of water with dinner and none for 2 hours after dinner.
8. After 2 hours drink and walk.
9. At 5 P.M. take a hip bath of same temperature and duration as at 11.
10. Walk again and after every bath and drinking.
11. Take supper as early as 6 same as breakfast but quite little.
12. Take a foot-bath before retiring 10 to 30 minutes, --temperature 73 degrees to 60 degrees as in other baths, and rub the feet and walk until they become warmed.
13. Take an ear-bath forenoon and afternoon at the Douch house.

R. Wesslehoeft,
(by Secretary)

Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

© 2011, copyright William C. Haskell