I've attached an updated version of the full set of patches, in a form I
think is suitable for trunk.  Changes from those previously posted:

* Patches with extended descriptions now have those included in the
commit messages in the patch files.

* Patch 38 is omitted as already in 1.6.

* Parts of the original patch 39 that Christof identified as incorrect
are removed.

* Patch 45 is omitted as Christof reported problems with it.

* The original patch 73 is merged into the original 59 (which is now
numbered 57), being a bug fix to a change made in that patch.

I'm happy to push some or all of these to trunk, given write access, if
we think there's now been enough review, or to make a git tree with them
available somewhere.