how to insert and read binary data into mysql

mysql> create table test (data longblob);
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.03 sec)


$dbh = sql_init({db => 'CMDB', host=>'localhost', user=>'cmdbuser'});
open (F, "wordfile.doc");
while () {
  $data .= $_;
}
close F;

$sql = "insert into test (data) values (?)";
$sth = $dbh->prepare($sql);
$numrows = $sth->execute($data);
$sth->finish();
$dbh->disconnect();
1;
# now read

$dbh = sql_init({db => 'CMDB', host=>'localhost', user=>'cmdbuser'});

$sql = "select data from test";
$sth = $dbh->prepare($sql);
$numrows = $sth->execute();

open OUT, ">ms.doc";

$ref = $sth->fetchrow_hashref;
$newdata = $$ref{'data'};
print OUT $newdata;
close OUT;
$sth->finish();
$dbh->disconnect();

http://www.james.rcpt.to/programs/mysql/blob/