diff --git a/src/ca/comBuf.h b/src/ca/comBuf.h
index dee58e542..2f6c6faa1 100644
--- a/src/ca/comBuf.h
+++ b/src/ca/comBuf.h
@@ -116,6 +116,8 @@ private:
     epicsUInt8 buf [ comBufSize ];
     void * operator new ( size_t size );
     void operator delete ( void * );
+    template < class T >
+    bool push ( const T * ); // disabled
 };
 
 inline void * comBuf::operator new ( size_t size, 
diff --git a/src/ca/comQueSend.cpp b/src/ca/comQueSend.cpp
index 4a29b4db5..5ae150be2 100644
--- a/src/ca/comQueSend.cpp
+++ b/src/ca/comQueSend.cpp
@@ -106,10 +106,7 @@ void comQueSend::clear ()
 
 void comQueSend::copy_dbr_string ( const void * pValue )
 {
-    // this extra step is required by Borland BCC 5.5
-    const dbr_string_t & str = 
-        * static_cast <const dbr_string_t *> ( pValue );
-    this->push ( str );
+    this->push ( static_cast < const char * > ( pValue ), MAX_STRING_SIZE );
 }
 
 void comQueSend::copy_dbr_short ( const void * pValue )
@@ -186,7 +183,7 @@ const comQueSend::copyScalarFunc_t comQueSend::dbrCopyScalar [39] = {
 
 void comQueSend::copy_dbr_string ( const void *pValue, unsigned nElem ) 
 {
-    this->push ( static_cast <const dbr_string_t *> ( pValue ), nElem );
+    this->push ( static_cast < const char * > ( pValue ), nElem * MAX_STRING_SIZE );
 }
 
 void comQueSend::copy_dbr_short ( const void *pValue, unsigned nElem ) 
diff --git a/src/ca/comQueSend.h b/src/ca/comQueSend.h
index 721a19b7f..c1be89440 100644
--- a/src/ca/comQueSend.h
+++ b/src/ca/comQueSend.h
@@ -149,6 +149,9 @@ private:
         this->pushComBuf ( *pComBuf );
     }
 
+    template < class T >
+    inline void push ( const T * ); // disabled
+
     comQueSend ( const comQueSend & );
     comQueSend & operator = ( const comQueSend & );
 };