THE STORY OF THE BACTERIA. 49 



than the sudden appearance on the moist sur- 

 faces of articles of food of little bright-red 

 shiny droplets, which, gradually spreading, at 

 length formed large shiny, deep, rich-red 

 masses, looking very like drops, or masses, or 

 clots of blood. The story is long and tragic 

 of the dire calamities, unmentionable crimes, 

 and swift retributions which these strange ap- 

 pearances of blood were supposed to fore- 

 shadow. 



This miracle of the bleeding Host has 

 appeared again and again in the hands of the 

 priestly defenders of the faith as a most potent 

 evidence of divine intervention with the affairs 

 of men. The consecrated wafer placed over- 

 night in the moist and bacteria-laden air of 

 the church edifice, would in the morning be 

 found besprinkled with bright-red drops. 

 What could it be but blood ? No human 

 hand could have come near the place, and so 

 what else could be believed but that it was 

 from the hand of God? It was one of those 

 early miracles in which both priest and layman 

 could alike share in believing with perfect 

 honesty. The divine finger pointed, but to 



