php shows as text

Hi list,

Yes I've searched the archive ;)
I have a strange thing, which must be a something trivial.
My .php files run as expected, but as soon as I try to run a script from 
an extentionless file, it shows up as text; the source is shown.
I saw on the php.net faq that if that happens I should replace the
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php .phtml with AddType text/html php 
and add AddHandler php-script php to my httpd.conf, which I did. Saved, 
restarted, but still the same thing.
As soon as I add .php to the file, it runs just beautifully. Why not 
just add .php you might say, but it is part of a larger installation, 
which calls these extentionless files, so that is no option.
Any hints?

Thanks
-Patrick