[Exim] messages containing ^\.$ in the body

hello eximmers,

exim (v2.05 on linux debian slink) is truncating messages containig ^\.$
in the body! is this normal behaviour? is there a way to disable it?

I've noticed that this happens with

    cat file | /usr/sbin/exim myself@???

but everything works if I use 'mail' like in

    cat file | mail myself@???

TIA!

--
Otavio Exel /<\oo/>\ oexel@???