Page:Linda Hazzard - Fasting for the cure of disease.djvu/73

 CHAPTER V.

SYMPTOMS

DISEASE symptoms are the evidences of the conditions present within the body, and they indicate with more or less accuracy the degree of functional or of organic disturbance. In addition they enable the experienced observer to localize the point of least resistance, the organ prevented from proper performance of its task. In fasting, these signs of disease, during the first days of abstinence, are seen to be exaggerated or seemingly increased in severity; but this is a logical consequence of the application of a method, the purpose of which is that of elimination of a clogging, circulating poison. The extreme process of castingout in progress during the fast uncovers the seat of disease, and exaggerates in the very cure itself its characteristic signs. To the orthodox mind this phenomenon at once suggests an increase in severity, since to it the symptom itself represents a cause. But,