diff --git a/src/backends/mysql/statement.cpp b/src/backends/mysql/statement.cpp
index cd901602d..33cdfc61f 100644
--- a/src/backends/mysql/statement.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/mysql/statement.cpp
@@ -402,45 +402,38 @@ int mysql_statement_backend::prepare_for_describe()
 }
 
 void mysql_statement_backend::describe_column(int colNum,
-    data_type & type, db_type & dbtype, std::string & columnName)
+    db_type & dbtype, std::string & columnName)
 {
     int pos = colNum - 1;
     MYSQL_FIELD *field = mysql_fetch_field_direct(result_, pos);
     switch (field->type)
     {
     case FIELD_TYPE_CHAR:       //MYSQL_TYPE_TINY:
-        type = dt_integer;
         dbtype = field->flags & UNSIGNED_FLAG ? db_uint8 : db_int8;
         break;
     case FIELD_TYPE_SHORT:      //MYSQL_TYPE_SHORT:
-        type = dt_integer;
         dbtype = field->flags & UNSIGNED_FLAG ? db_uint16 : db_int16;
         break;
     case FIELD_TYPE_INT24:      //MYSQL_TYPE_INT24:
-        type = dt_integer;
         dbtype = field->flags & UNSIGNED_FLAG ? db_uint32 : db_int32;
         break;
     case FIELD_TYPE_LONG:       //MYSQL_TYPE_LONG:
         if (field->flags & UNSIGNED_FLAG)
         {
-            type = dt_long_long;
             dbtype = db_uint32;
         }
         else
         {
-            type = dt_integer;
             dbtype = db_int32;
         }
         break;
     case FIELD_TYPE_LONGLONG:   //MYSQL_TYPE_LONGLONG:
         if (field->flags & UNSIGNED_FLAG)
         {
-            type = dt_unsigned_long_long;
             dbtype = db_uint64;
         }
         else
         {
-            type = dt_long_long;
             dbtype = db_int64;
         }
         break;
@@ -452,7 +445,6 @@ void mysql_statement_backend::describe_column(int colNum,
     // sends field type number 246, no matter which version of libraries
     // the client is using.
     case 246:                   //MYSQL_TYPE_NEWDECIMAL:
-        type = dt_double;
         dbtype = db_double;
         break;
     case FIELD_TYPE_TIMESTAMP:  //MYSQL_TYPE_TIMESTAMP:
@@ -461,7 +453,6 @@ void mysql_statement_backend::describe_column(int colNum,
     case FIELD_TYPE_DATETIME:   //MYSQL_TYPE_DATETIME:
     case FIELD_TYPE_YEAR:       //MYSQL_TYPE_YEAR:
     case FIELD_TYPE_NEWDATE:    //MYSQL_TYPE_NEWDATE:
-        type = dt_date;
         dbtype = db_date;
         break;
 //  case MYSQL_TYPE_VARCHAR:
@@ -472,7 +463,6 @@ void mysql_statement_backend::describe_column(int colNum,
     case FIELD_TYPE_TINY_BLOB:
     case FIELD_TYPE_MEDIUM_BLOB:
     case FIELD_TYPE_LONG_BLOB:
-        type = dt_string;
         dbtype = db_string;
         break;
     default: