(defun number-pgraphs (start end) ;; alias M-npg
  "insert paragraph-numbers of chapters at paragraphs' start in region. Blank lines have been guaranteed to consist of only a single C-j"
  (interactive "r")
  (let ((par-number 1))
    (save-excursion
      (goto-char start)
      (while (< (point) end)
        (while (and (bolp) (eolp)) (forward-line)) 
        ;; skip blank line(s) with only linefeed chars
        (if (= (following-char) ?*)
            ;; * character, start of new chapter - reset paragraph number
            (setq par-number 1)
          ;; Check if there is already a paragraph number, remove it first
          (if (looking-at "[0-9]+\. ")
              (replace-match ""))
          (insert (concat (number-to-string par-number) "." " "))
          (setq par-number (1+ par-number)))
        (forward-line))))
  ) ;; defun