Prevention of infantile blindness.

Any physician, midwife, nurse or other person in attendance on a confinement case shall, within two hours after the birth of the child, use one of the following prophylactic solutions for the prevention of infantile blindness or ophthalmia neonatorum, two drops of the solution to be dropped in each eye after the eyelids have been opened:

(1) A one percent fresh solution of nitrate of silver, or

(2) Such other solution as may be prescribed by the State Board of Health.

(Acts 1919, No. 658, p. 909; Code 1923, §1115; Code 1940, T. 22, §58; Acts 1981, No. 81-439, p. 757, §16.)