Justinus Kerner

Justinus Kerner

Justinus Kerner (1786 - 1862) German physician, poet and writer of literary and medical subjects. Kerner was the first physician to provide a complete and accurate description of what has been historically known as sausage poisoning, or medically as botulism. From this, botulism is also sometimes referred to as Kerner's disease. The Kerner variety of grapes is named in his honor, since his songs and poems frequently dealt with wine & drinking. He spent most of his life in the historical town of Weinsberg, where the townspeople presented him with a house that became a major literary retreat for the writers of the time. In his old age, Kerner was increasingly blind, and at his death was buried next to his wife.