#!/bin/perl -w
use strict;
use XML::Parser;

my $p= new XML::Parser(
        'Non-Expat-Options' => { my_option => "1" },
        Handlers => { Start => \&start, }
                      );
$p->parse( '<a />');
$p->parse( '<b />');

sub start
  { my( $pe, $elt, %atts)= @_;
    print "element: $elt - my option: ", 
          $pe->{'Non-Expat-Options'}->{my_option}++, "\n";
    $p->parse( '<c />') 
       unless( $pe->{'Non-Expat-Options'}->{my_option} > 3);
  }