Sending an html document with embedded images

Hello all,
I need to send an html document (containing images) thought the mail. Looking at the api, I realize this is going to be a pain in the rear. It looks like you would need to parse the original html source, replace all the image tags with special object reference tags and then include all of the images as appropriately named attachments.
Surely there is a better way to do this. Could someone enlighten me?
Regards,
Joshua