How did Sai Baba cure Balaram Mankar's chronic asthma?

Balaram Mankar was suffering from a chronic case of asthma that had afflicted him for six years. As recounted in Chapter 51, during a visit to Shirdi, he was massaging Sai Baba's feet when Baba offered him his 'chillim' (pipe) to smoke. Despite not being a smoker and finding it difficult, Balaram took a puff, considering it to be prasad. The effect was miraculous and immediate. The scripture states that from that moment on, a fortunate day dawned for Balaram; his asthma vanished, and he attained complete health. The ailment that had troubled him for years was gone in an instant and never returned.