Combine performance regression (was: Fix PR target/18701)

[Hans-Peter Nilsson]

On Thu, 20 Jan 2005, Mark Mitchell wrote:
> Since Roger seems unhappy, and since you don't mind, and since Ulrich
> reports a 5% regression, please revert the patch.

It seemed Roger was in the process of doing a more invasive
change.

brgds, H-P