Apache 1.3.27 
.htaccess file
php_value auto_prepend_file '/path/to/function/file'
php_value auto_append_file '/path/to/cleanup/file'

I keep reloading a phpinfo.php script
<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Browser displays value randomly

Directive = Local Value, Master Value

auto_prepend_file = no value, no value
auto_append_file = no value, no value
--OR--
auto_prepend_file = /path/to/function/file, no value
auto_append_file = /path/to/cleanup/file, no value