#litonotus

"But his work seemed to come to an abrupt end in 1935 for reasons that are not known. Some have speculated that he was frustrated with both the criticisms from academic scientists, and the challenges of getting his work published. There is a manuscript from 1943, submitted to the journal Mikrokosmos aimed towards amateur microscopits like Kahl. But whether there was meant to be more would become irrelevant: Kahl died in 1946 and those who have looked into these questions have found neither an obituary nor a grave."

Journey to the Microcosmos- The Schoolteacher Who Discovered 700 Ciliates

"Kahl's classification system may not have lasted, but maybe that's part of its value. Our understanding of microbes is marked by so many stories of how we have attempted to classify and reclassify and reclassify again. And given how many species we have yet to encounter, it is a task that will likely never end. During his lifetime, his work invited its share of criticism. Some took issue with his methods, while others disagreed with the definitions he used to distinguish species. But while Kahl acknowledged the feedback, his careful and thorough work would produce description that still endure and inform our understanding of ciliates."

Journey to the Microcosmos- The Schoolteacher Who Discovered 700 Ciliates