Langstein

LANGSTEIN Leo (Leo Langstein, b. 1876), one of the largest German pediatricians, professor at Berlin University in the department of children's diseases, director of the institute for combating mortality in infancy and early childhood. After graduating from Vienna University in 1899, L. begins to study physiological chemistry in Strasbourg in the laboratory of Hofmeister, under whom he worked for two years. In 1902, L. graduated from the natural faculty in the chemical department. From 1902 to 1903, L. studied protein chemistry under the personal guidance of Emil Fischer. The thorough chemical training received by L. left a deep mark on his scientific research activity as a pediatrician. While studying chemistry, L. in his free time devoted himself to pediatrics. At the end of 1904, L. receives the position of second physician in the children's clinic of Berlin University, which was headed by Heubner. Subsequently, L. becomes a senior assistant and one of Heubner's closest colleagues. In 1908, L. becomes privat-docent at Berlin University in the department of children's diseases. In 1909, he is invited to the position of senior physician at the newly opened Berlin Institute for Combating Mortality in Infancy and Early Childhood (Kaiserin Augusta-Victoria Haus, Reichsanstalt zur Bekämpfung der Säuglings- und Kleinkindersterblichkeit). From 1911 to the present time, L. has been the permanent director of this institute. Hundreds of scientific works have come from the institute directed by Langstein. During 30 years of work, L. published approx. 250 scientific works. The most important of them: "Die Albuminurien älterer Kinder" (Diss., Lpz., 1907); "Krankheiten der Respirationsorgane, des Herzens und der Urogenitalorgane" (Lpz., 1924); "Säuglingsernährung und Säuglingsstoffwechsel" (Wiesbaden, 1910, together with L. Meyer).