Obituary
DR L. KIRSCHNER (N.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, November 23. Dr Leopold Kirschner, who 20 years ago discovered the widespread incidence of leptospirosis in New Zealanders and their farm animals, has died in Dunedin, aged 81. He came to Dunedin after the Second World War and took up a position in microbiology at the University of Otago Medical School, where he soon become interested in a little-known organism called leptospira. Dr Kirschner’s researches showed that New Zealanders and farm animals suffered extensively from infection with this germ. His work led to more effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the infection, known as leptospirosis and now a notifiable disease. Bom in Austria, Dr Kirschner took his medical training in Vienna before the First World War, when Vienna was the centre of world medicine. He married there and with his wife moved to the Institute Pasteur at Bandung, Java, where he worked for many years in the field of tropica! medicine.
During the Second World War, Dr and Mrs Kirschner were imprisoned by .the Japanese. Soon after their release they came to Dunedin. Dr Kirschner is survived by his wife.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CX, Issue 32462, 24 November 1970, Page 14
Word Count
188Obituary Press, Volume CX, Issue 32462, 24 November 1970, Page 14
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