Name Josef Loschner | Role Physician | |
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Died April 19, 1888, Velichov, Czech Republic | ||
Josef Wilhelm Freiherr von Löschner or in Czech Josef Vilém z Löschneru (May 7, 1809 – April 19, 1888) was an Austrian physician born in Kaaden, Bohemia. He studied at Gymnasium Kadaň.
In 1834 he received his medical doctorate at Prague, and several years later he obtained his habilitation for balneology (1841). Later on, he became a professor at the University of Prague, where in 1862-63 he served as university rector. In 1862 he was appointed Landesmedizinalrat, and in 1865 became Hofrat (councilor) and a personal physician to Franz Joseph I of Austria. A foundation arranged by Löschner resulted in the creation of the Franz Joseph Kinderhospital in Prague.
Löschner is remembered for his work in the field of balneology. He advocated the curative properties of health spas, and wrote numerous articles promoting the spas of Bohemia. These publications were instrumental in making Bohemian spas a popular tourist destination, particularly the resorts at Karlsbad and Bílina, which were regularly visited by members of European royalty.