Countering Masters and Johnson

Re “New AIDS Research Under Fire” (by Elizabeth Mehren, March 8): Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson have been out of the limelight for God knows how many years. Now here they come throwing an irresponsible scare into the public by claiming that kissing and casual contact spreads AIDS.

There is a tremendous difference between a so-called sex expert and a medical expert. Common sense should tell us that half the American populace would be dead if such casual contacts did indeed spread the disease, because gays and straights mix throughout society on the job, in school, at recreational gatherings, and in so many other ways. I offer this educated opinion to offset the desperate publicity-grabbing tactics Masters and Johnson are forcing upon us.

CAROL NEUERMAN

Laverne