mpound
of many constituent substances, each component being present in a
prescribed amount, contributing to the essential equilibrium of the whole.
So long as these constituents remain in their due proportion, according to
the natural balance of the whole--that is, no component suffereth a change
in its natural proportionate degree and balance, no component being either
augmented or decreased--there will be no physical cause for the incursion
of disease.

For example, the starch component must be present to a given amount, and
the sugar to a given amount. So long as each remaineth in its natural
proportion to the whole, there will be no cause for the onset of disease.
When, however, these constituents vary as to their natural and due
amounts--that is, when they are augmented or diminished--it is certain that
this will provide for the inroads of disease.

This question requireth the most careful investigation. The Bab hath said
that the people of Baha must develop the science of medicine to such a
high degree that they will heal illnesses by means of foods. The basic
reason for this is that if, in some component substance of the human body,
an imbalance should occur, altering its correct, relative proportion to
the whole, this fact will inevitably result in the onset of disease. If,
for example, the starch component should be unduly augmented, or the sugar
component decreased, an illness will take control. It is the function of a
skilled physician to determine which constituent of his patient's body
hath suffered diminution, which hath been augmented. Once he hath
discovered this, he must prescribe a food containing the diminished
element in considerable amounts, to re-establish the body's essential
equilibrium. The patient, once his constitution is again in balance, will
be rid of his disease.

The proof of this is that while other animals have never studied medical
science, nor carried on researches into diseases or medicines, treatments
or cures--even so, when one of them falleth a prey to sickness, nature
leadeth it, in fields or desert places, to the very plant which, once
eaten, will rid the animal of its disease. The explanation is that if, as
an example, the sugar component in the animal's body hath decreased,
according to a natural law the animal hankereth after a herb that is rich
in sugar. Then, by a natural urge, which is the appetite, among a thousand
different varieties of plants across the field, the ani