I'd look into avoiding reading the mbox file to begin with. With a properly defined alias or .forward file, you could use a script using Mail::Procmail to intercept the email as it's being delivered.

By doing so, you've eliminated all the headaches that go with handling the mbox file yourself. In addition, Mail::Procmail's pm_init method returns a Mail::Internet object, which will allow for easy manipulation of headers and bodies (and re-sending the email, as necessary).

Of course, if you're not using any of the more advanced features of Mail::Procmail, you could eliminate your use of the module by creating your Mail::Internet object directly:

my $mail = Mail::Internet->new(\*STDIN);
[download]

Hope this helps!

--jwest

-><- -><- -><- -><- -><-
All things are Perfect
    To every last Flaw
    And bound in accord
         With Eris's Law
 - HBT; The Book of Advice, 1:7