problem with /usr/bin/file

[redmyrlin]

I found a similar posting back in October 2000 but could find no resolution.
In trying to overcome as problem with shared libraries on an upgrade of 
exim-mysql I  tried reinstalling libtool-1.3.5 (I am running FreeBSD 4.7)

During the install I got the following warning

*** Warning: the command libtool uses to detect shared libraries,
*** /usr/bin/file, produces output that libtool cannot recognize.
*** The result is that libtool may fail to recognize shared libraries
*** as such.  This will affect the creation of libtool libraries that
*** depend on shared libraries, but programs linked with such libtool
*** libraries will work regardless of this problem.  Nevertheless, you
*** may want to report the problem to your system manager and/or to
*** address@hidden

I suspect this is the root of my problem, but I am not sure how to 
correct it.  Any help would be much appreciated.

TIA
Graeme