dpkg package database error

[Carl Greco <cgreco@novia.net>]

Got the following errors while attempting to update dpkg-ftp in preparation
to upgrade from Debian 1.1-14 to 1.2.  Updated dpkg several days ago without
problem.

        mac-bsa:/usr/distribution/binary/net# dpkg -i dpkg-ftp_1.4.8.deb
        (Reading database ... 4971 files and directories currently installed.)
        Preparing to replace dpkg-ftp 1.4.8 (using dpkg-ftp_1.4.8.deb) ...
        Unpacking replacement dpkg-ftp ...
        dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of dpkg-ftp:
         dpkg-ftp depends on perl; however:
 -->      Package perl is not installed.        <--
         dpkg-ftp depends on libnet; however:
          Package libnet is not installed.
        dpkg: error processing dpkg-ftp (--install):
         dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
        Errors were encountered while processing:
         dpkg-ftp

dpkg thinks perl is not installed although it is and fully functional - as
far as I can tell.  I'm not sure how the perl installation information was
lost from the dpkg database.  Is there a convenient way to "fix" the perl
database entry without re-installing perl?  Does anyone know how this happen?  

  - Carl
=========================================
 Carl Greco      mac-bsa!cgreco@novia.net
=========================================



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