Letters: Sep. 29, 1997

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Your article on the silicone-breast-implant trial in Louisiana [LAW, Sept. 1] raised a number of important issues about the role of science in the courtroom, but the use of the word Dow in the article was misleading. Dow Chemical and Dow Corning are separate corporate entities, and Dow Chemical is not the "parent company" of Dow Corning. Rather, Dow Chemical and Corning Inc. are each 50% shareholders in Dow Corning, which formerly made breast implants. Dow Chemical is not now and never has been in the breast-implant business. It is also important to note that the Louisiana trial is only the third in which Dow Chemical has been involved, and in one of the previous two trials you referred to, the judge overturned the jury verdict, thus freeing Dow Chemical from any liability. Furthermore, Dow Chemical has been dismissed from about 4,000 implant cases in New York, Michigan and California because judges found no basis for suing it for the product produced by another company. JOHN MUSSER, Director of Public Affairs Dow Chemical Co. Midland, Mich

MEASURES FOR TIES THAT BIND

Having practiced family law (divorce law) for 38 years, I offer a simple solution to the high rate of marital breakup examined in your story on the debate over whether it should be harder to get a divorce [SOCIETY, Aug. 18]. To wit: females should not marry before age 30; males should not marry before age 40. CONNOLLY OYLER Santa Monica, Calif.