"Fatal error: Call to undefined function: dbase_open()"

I know that I need to enable the the dbase extension in PHP on my RH8.0, but looks like there's no way to do that.
I can't find the file dbase.so, nor a way to recompile PHP 4.2.2 in order to make it work with dbase.

I haven't tried to install PHP 4.3.3 because it's a production server and don't want to risk messing it.

So my question is:

there's a "safer" way to install PHP 4.3.3 with dbase support without messing the current apache/php config?

or

where the hell can I get working dbase.o extension?

or

how can I recompile the actual PHP 4.2.2 distribution?

thanks.