The application to the eyes of new-born infants of silver nitrate or other approved prophylactic for the prevention of ophthalmia neonatorum will become mandatory in Illinois, July 1, under an act recently approved by Governor Homer. The act amends the present law, which provides only for giving information and advice concerning this disease to parents and for investigating cases after they develop.
Last year a similar bill passed the general assembly of Illinois. Then vociferous opposition by Christian scientists, followed by Attorney General Carlstrom's opinion that the bill was unconstitutional, apparently led Governor Emmerson to veto it. This year Attorney General Kerner submitted to Governor Horner a masterly, well reasoned opinion. True, he expressed some misgivings concerning the constitutionality of such an act in Illinois, but he pointed out at the same time that an act passed by the general assembly is to be regarded as constitutional until the contrary