Large $N$ matrix models modified by terms of the form $ g(\TrΦ^n)^2$ generate random surfaces which touch at isolated points. Matrix model results indicate that, as $g$ is increased to a special value $g_t$, the string susceptibility exponent suddenly jumps from its conventional value $γ$ to ${γ\overγ-1}$. We study this effect in Ł gravity and attribute it to a change of the interaction term from $O e^{α_+ ϕ}$ for $g

15 pages, PUPT-1486 (last paragraph of sec. 2 revised)