The pulse is usually rapid and the temperature goes up somewhat abruptly. (Chart 3.) The condition of the lochia depends upon the infecting organism. In streptococcal infection the lochia is often greatly decreased in amount and almost odorless, while in colon bacillus infections the lochia is profuse and foul-smelling. The attack may be very acute and result fatally in a few days, or it may gradually subside and the patient recover. [Illustration: CHART 3.—Chart showing rise in temperature about 3rd day after delivery in a _streptococcus infection_. ] [Illustration: CHART 4.—Chart showing rise in temperature about 7th day after delivery in _gonorrheal infection_. ] In gonorrheal infections the temperature does not go up until later, from the sixth or to the tenth day, as a rule. (Chart 4.) The patient is not usually very ill and generally recovers. But the gonococcus is very likely to produce an inflammation of the tubes and to close up the fimbriated opening. Thus it is impossible for ova thereafter to enter the tube and gain access to the uterus and accordingly the patient cannot again become pregnant. Unlike other infections, gonorrhea is not conveyed to the patient during or soon after labor on instruments or examining fingers, but is already present in the vulvo-vaginal glands and from them may travel to the uterine cavity and to the tubes. =Treatment and Nursing Care. Preventive.= There is so little that can be done toward curing a patient suffering from puerperal infection that the greatest effort should be made to prevent the disease. The nurse’s part in preventing this complication is an important one and consists of making such preparation for labor that it may be conducted with absolute cleanliness; maintaining the same asepsis during delivery as she would throughout a major surgical operation and protecting the perineum from infection after delivery. =Curative.= The curative treatment for puerperal infection resolves itself largely into good nursing care. The patient should be kept warm and quiet and as comfortable as possible; elimination is promoted, her strength is saved and her general resistance increased in every way possible. The head of the bed is frequently elevated, to promote drainage; the windows are kept open to provide plenty of fresh air; the diet is light and nourishing and the patient is encouraged to drink an abundance of water. Ice caps to the head and abdomen are frequently used to make the patient more comfortable; also cold sponge baths when the temperature is high. A patient suffering from puerperal infection should be conscientiously isolated. If the nurse who cares for her is forced to come in contact with other patients, she should wear gloves and a gown while attending the infected woman and thoroughly scrub and soak her hands after each attention.