NOTE: More info from Kary follows my question:

I'm sure this isn't earth shattering.. but I'm curious.. because I've
never seen this before.. or noticed it.. what is with the

<-first ever>

in the digests?  Every one I got has this: (I snipped out the
maelstrom domain to prevent a bounce)

Date:     Wed, 26 Jan 2005 00:03:19 -0500
Reply-To: SJU Polio and Post Polio Syndrome List <POLIO@XXXX>
Sender:   SJU Polio and Post Polio Syndrome List <POLIO@xxx>
From:     Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@XXXX>

Subject:  POLIO Digest - <first ever> to 25 Jan 2005 (#2005-1)

To:       Recipients of POLIO digests <POLIO@xxxx>


------- Forwarded message follows -------

Beats me.  A google search indicates that it isn't unique to
this site, go ahead and ask in the LSTSRV and or LSTOWN list.
Pertinent info would be that it occurred on a site that had
experienced a variety of file damage including some garbaged
records in the PERMVARS file.

SWAG: I'd suspect that PERMVARS was tracking when digests were
last issued so, for example, a *daily* that had no activity for
a couple of days could reflect in the subject that it covered
an interval more than a day.
                                   -Kary

------- End of forwarded message -------