help with error message from perl Pg

We have an unusual problem with some perl code that is processing data
via DBD facility.  Basically, the code consists of various subroutines
that are identified in a hash.  The primary script then references the
subroutines through a &$prog(...) syntax.  What appears to happen is
that all subroutines will run just fine if they do not need to do any
deletes or updates to the database.  Any subroutine that does a delete
or update runs fine, but the subsequent routine fails with the following
error:

prgcaphlg: FATAL:  invalid frontend message type 78
server closed the connection unexpectedly
    This probably means the server terminated abnormally
    before or while processing the request.

Searching google for 'invalid frontend message type 78' returns no hits,
which is a scary thing.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

--
Until later, Geoffrey

Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little
security will deserve neither and lose both.  - Benjamin Franklin