Neither in auscultation or percussion, nor, in fact, in any of the more modern modes of physical explorations, did he ever make much proficiency, and he professed but little fiiith in them, believing, until his death, that the rational signs of disease would generally lead the rational practitioner to a correct diagnosis.

In surgery he was not a brilliant operator, although his isolated jjosition and immense practice continually forced him to use the knife. It was his boa.st, and true, that during a practice of fifty years no irregular practitioner had been able to make any head in all his field of practice, and it must be added that during his prime it was a risky matter for any i)hy-

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

sician, regular or otherwise, to infringe upon his domain. His cultivated mind and vastly superior medical attainments made him the natural antagonist of empiricism, and his indomitable will, his consciousness of his own superiority, raised the hands of others against his. " In fact," his son, Hosea Fountain, wrote, " he was in hot water the most of thetime. Of course such a man had bitter enemies and strong, warm-hearted friends." His field of labor extended from Fishkill to Tarrytown, and from the Hudson River to beyond the Connecticut line. " He kept the best horses and rode constantly in the saddle ; he was very active, was up and away before we were up. Would ride all day, and then in hot weather I have known him to strip to the skin and help his man draw hay off by moonlight ; then off in the morning again as usual." In 1862 he removed to Waverly, N. Y., to spend the remainder of his days with his son. He died May 19, 1869, during a visit to his old home in Jefferson Valley, and was buried in the Presbyterian grave-yard at Crompond.