  The total cross section for p-d breakup is studied in terms of the elastic
S-matrix through the unitary condition. Calculations using the complex Kohn
variational method along with the Pair Correlated Hyperspherical Harmonic basis
are presented. The results have been restricted to energies below Ep=30 MeV
where Coulomb effects are expected to be sizable and are compared to the
existing data. Two different measurements have been found in the literature: 40
years ago, Gibbons and Macklin (1959); and 26 years ago, Carlosn et al. (1973).
The calculations are found to be in reasonable agreement with these old data,
though a discrepancy is observed near the deuteron breakup threshold. Moreover,
a detailed analysis of the contributions to the observable from different
partial waves has been presented. Unexpectedly, the main contribution for a
wide range of energies has been detected in the J=3/2- state.
