diff --git a/Lib/logging/__init__.py b/Lib/logging/__init__.py
index 9d6aa92..3bd0c6d 100644
--- a/Lib/logging/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/logging/__init__.py
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@
 
 __author__  = "Vinay Sajip <vinay_sajip@red-dove.com>"
 __status__  = "beta"
-__version__ = "0.4.8"
-__date__    = "22 April 2003"
+__version__ = "0.4.8.1"
+__date__    = "26 June 2003"
 
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #   Miscellaneous module data
@@ -233,6 +233,17 @@
             msg = msg % self.args
         return msg
 
+def makeLogRecord(dict):
+    """
+    Make a LogRecord whose attributes are defined by the specified dictionary,
+    This function is useful for converting a logging event received over
+    a socket connection (which is sent as a dictionary) into a LogRecord
+    instance.
+    """
+    rv = LogRecord(None, None, "", 0, "", (), None)
+    rv.__dict__.update(dict)
+    return rv
+
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #   Formatter classes and functions
 #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/Lib/logging/handlers.py b/Lib/logging/handlers.py
index 4a597a1..7ed1135 100644
--- a/Lib/logging/handlers.py
+++ b/Lib/logging/handlers.py
@@ -111,8 +111,12 @@
     A handler class which writes logging records, in pickle format, to
     a streaming socket. The socket is kept open across logging calls.
     If the peer resets it, an attempt is made to reconnect on the next call.
-    Note that the very simple wire protocol used means that packet sizes
-    are expected to be encodable within 16 bits (i.e. < 32767 bytes).
+    The pickle which is sent is that of the LogRecord's attribute dictionary
+    (__dict__), so that the receiver does not need to have the logging module
+    installed in order to process the logging event.
+
+    To unpickle the record at the receiving end into a LogRecord, use the
+    makeLogRecord function.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, host, port):
@@ -208,9 +212,12 @@
 class DatagramHandler(SocketHandler):
     """
     A handler class which writes logging records, in pickle format, to
-    a datagram socket. Note that the very simple wire protocol used means
-    that packet sizes are expected to be encodable within 16 bits
-    (i.e. < 32767 bytes).
+    a datagram socket.  The pickle which is sent is that of the LogRecord's
+    attribute dictionary (__dict__), so that the receiver does not need to
+    have the logging module installed in order to process the logging event.
+
+    To unpickle the record at the receiving end into a LogRecord, use the
+    makeLogRecord function.
 
     """
     def __init__(self, host, port):
@@ -236,14 +243,6 @@
         when the network is busy - UDP does not guarantee delivery and
         can deliver packets out of sequence.
         """
-        #old code
-        #sentsofar = 0
-        #left = len(s)
-        #addr = (self.host, self.port)
-        #while left > 0:
-        #    sent = self.sock.sendto(s[sentsofar:], addr)
-        #    sentsofar = sentsofar + sent
-        #    left = left - sent
         self.sock.sendto(s, (self.host, self.port))
 
 class SysLogHandler(logging.Handler):