David Poswillo trained at Otago University Dental School, Dunedin, New Zealand (BDS) and the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FDSRCS). His great interest became the genesis and repair of cleft lip and palate and, in addition to clinical work, he undertook an experimental study of the embryology of cleft palate in pregnant rats exposed to three teratogenic agents. The microscopic work was carried out in his garden shed in Christchurch. His groundbreaking work on amniotic puncture at a critical period came to international notice and he was given the first Chair in Teratology of the Royal College of Surgeons. In experimental studies he showed that thalidomide induced focal haemorrhage in the developing embryo. Poswillo was also Consultant Oral Surgeon at Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead and his skills as surgeon and teacher attracted numerous trainee surgeons. He was Professor of Oral Surgery in Adelaide and then in London. Poswillo was Chairman of two advisory committees whose lucid reports on anaesthesia, sedation and resuscitation in dentistry (Poswillo Report) and on tobacco and health were far-reaching and influential. David Poswillo had immense energy and enthusiasm and is remembered by many for his personal interest and stimulating guidance.
PoswilloDE, Who’s Who 2003, London: A & L Black, pp. 1740–1740.
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Report on the death of Mr Leon Poswillo. Poverty Bay Herald, 21 April 1908, http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz (accessed 28 August 2011).
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Mrs Glenys Smith (née Poswillo), sister of David Poswillo: personal communication.
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WalshJ, The University of Otago Dental School. British Dental Journal, 1961; 111, 157–161.
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Holborow DW. Sir John Patrick Walsh. Obituary. Academy Yearbook of the Society of New Zealand, 2003, www.royalsociety.org.nz (accessed 20 August 2011).
Mrs Jane Caton (née Poswillo), daughter of David Poswillo: personal communication.
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New Zealand Army record of David Ernest Poswillo DDS, FDSRCS(Eng), FACDS. Archives of the New Zealand Defence Forces, Trentham Military Camp, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
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AnsonTV, The Royal New Zealand Dental Corps 1915-1965. New Zealand Dental Journal, 1965; 61, 278–284.
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PoswilloDE, Chronic traumatic arthritis associated with mandibular overclosure. New Zealand Dental Journal, 1949; 45, 240–240.
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PoswilloD, Oral surgery. New Zealand Dental Journal, 1954; 50, 61–69.
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Mr Kerry Sullivan, a Christchurch colleague: personal communication.
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Poswillo D. The embryology of cleft palate: a comparison of the normal palate with the development of cleft palate induced by three teratogenic techniques, namely X-radiation, hypervitaminosis A and cortisone, and amniotic puncture. Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (NZ), University of Otago, NZ. 2 volumes, 1962.
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PoswilloDRoyLJ, The pathogenesis of cleft palate. An animal study. British Journal of Surgery, 1965; 52, 902–913.
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Poswillo D. Observations of fetal posture and causal mechanisms of congenital deformity of palate, mandible, and limbs. Journal of Dental Research 1966;45:584-96. The supplement to part 3 of the volume contains a summary of events and the papers presented at the 3rd International Conference in Oral Biology held in London, June 1965.
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Obituary Professor David Poswillo. The Times, 9 July 2003, www.timesonline.co.uk (accessed 03 July 2011).
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Barnard D. Professor David Poswillo. Obituary. The Independent, 22 July 2003, www.independent.co.uk (accessed 12 September 2011).
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PoswilloD, The aetiology and surgery of cleft palate with micrognathia. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 1968; 43, 61–88.
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PoswilloDE, Cleft palate in the rat. Laboratory Animals, 1968; 2, 181–190.
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PoswilloDEPhillipsIR, BerryCLPoswilloDE, Teratological investigations in laboratory primates: why, when and how to use them. Teratology. Trends and applications, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Verlag, 1975, pp. 121–135.
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PoswilloD, The pathogenesis of the first and second branchial arch syndrome. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, 1973; 35, 302–328.
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PoswilloD, Otomandibular deformity: pathogenesis as a guide to reconstruction. Journal of maxillo-facial Surgery, 1974; 2, 64–72.
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PoswilloD, The pathogenesis of the Treacher Collins syndrome (mandibular facial dysostosis). British Journal of Oral Surgery, 1975; 13, 1–26.
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Obituary. Professor David Poswillo, CBE, 1927-2003. British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2003; 41, 215–217.
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PoswilloD, Causal mechanisms of craniofacial deformity. British Medical Bulletin, 1975; 31, 101–106.
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PoswilloD, Experimental reconstruction of the mandibular joint. International Journal of Oral Surgery, 1974; 3, 400–411.
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PoswilloDE, John Hunter’s contribution to teratology. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 1995; Volume Special Number, 5–10.
28.
Mr David Barnard CBE, former Dean of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of England, in the Address given at the In Memoriam Service for Professor David Poswillo CBE 1927-2003 at Guy’s Hospital Chapel on 16 October 2003.
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GossA, Professor David Poswillo CBE 1927-2003 Obituary. Australian Dental Journal, 2003; 48, 269–269.
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DavidDJPoswilloDSimpsonD, The craniosynostoses; causes, natural history and management. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer Verlag, 1982.
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PoswilloD, The aetiology and pathogenesis of craniofacial deformity. Development, 1988103 (Suppl.)207–212.
32.
Hutchison I. Obituary David Poswillo. The Guardian, 25 June 2003, www.guardian.co.uk (accessed 5 December 2011).
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Dr Jerry Asquith: personal communication.
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Mr John Bradley: personal communication.
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Johnson N. Professor David Earnest Poswillo Obituary. British Dental Journal 2004;196:243, www.nature.com (accessed 3 July 2011).
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PoswilloDBabajewsABaileyM, Dental oral and maxillofacial surgery. a guide to hospital practice, London: William Heinemann Medical Books, 1986.
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PoswilloD, Intravenous amnesia for dental and oral surgery. New Zealand Dental Journal, 1967; 63, 265–270.
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PoswilloD, Recent pharmacological aids to dental practice. New Zealand Dental Journal, 1967; 63, 195–200.
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PoswilloD, (Chairman) General anaesthesia, sedation and resuscitation in dentistry: Poswillo report. Standing Dental Advisory Committee, London: Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, 1990.
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JamesDW, General anaesthesia, sedation and resuscitation in dentistry. a personal view. British Dental Journal, 1991; 171, 345–347.
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Poswillo, Dental Centre. Practitioner News. BDA News, 1995; 8, 12–12.
42.
Annual reports for 1993 of the Committee on Dental and Surgical Materials. Crown Copyright 1994.
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PoswilloDAlbermanE, Effects of smoking on the fetus, neonate, and child, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.
44.
PoswilloD, (Chairman) Report of the scientific committee on tobacco and health, London: The Stationery Office, 1998.
45.
The Facial Surgery Foundation, Saving Faces. Read on-line at www.savingfaces.co.uk (accessed 4 February 2012).
