PART I: Who Was Dr. Herbert M. Shelton?
A Dr. Herbert M. Shelton TimeLine
had The 19th Century Pioneers. Opposition in the 19th century had not been so fully organized or relentless. The American Medical Association had not grown into an octopus, with tentacles reaching into so many government institutions, drug companies and cartels, and minds and hearts of The People. Shelton had been seeing a need for The Hygienists to unite for a long time.
1948 Vivian Virginia Vetrano, a young and beautiful woman who has successfully pursued dancing as a career, discovers Natural Hygiene through Dr. Shelton's book, Health for All. She fasts at Dr. Shelton's Health School and is photographed many times for Dr. Shelton's upcoming masterpiece on beauty, in which she is pictured repeatedly and to whom the book, Human Beauty, is dedicated. In 1948 A national society is formed by 8 men in New York City. It is called the "American Physiological and Hygienic Society" In 1949 The new organization is renamed: the "American Natural Hygiene Society." 400 members join. Local chapters across The Nation are set up. Dr. Shelton is made the first President. In 1949 Dr. Shelton publishes Basic Principles of Natural Hygiene.
1956 Dr. Shelton is nominated on a 3rd party ticket at the Vegetarian Party Convention in New York. I would like to quote from Jean Oswald's biography of Dr. Shelton at this point: "Although Shelton thought his nomination was comical, his followers who nominated him were sincere. Both men and women continuously sought out Shelton's leadership. He did not have to court the people. Those who knew him, respected him. Many adored and idolized him. And why not? Shelton attracted men and women to him for a number of reasons. People sought his friendship because of his intellect, his revolutionary work, his magnetic presentations at his lectures, his handsome and athletic condition, and his wise counseling and guidance. A person could not have picked a better associate. Those close to Shelton considered themselves honored." Dr. Vetrano adds to this portrait in a recent phone call. She describes Dr. Shelton as "humorous, joking, playful, loving, and delightful to be around because of the twinkle in his eye." I was very glad to hear this. But I am still a bit puzzled. For when I read Shelton and listen to him on tape, he sounds so angry so bitter so sarcastic almost all the time. When I questioned Dr. Vetrano about this, she explained that early in Dr. Shelton's lecturing, his wife told him to "Get mad!" She and others convinced him that he would have to show strong emotion to be a good speaker. Thus, Dr. Shelton's adopted and polished his "persona." Here is another literary term coming from the former English teacher that I am! A "persona" is the character one takes in writing or speaking to make the most dramatic and most powerful effect possible on readers and listeners. "Mark Twain," for instance, was Samuel Clemens "persona." In effect, a "persona" is "a false front" or "an act" one puts on for dramatic or comic or endearing or teaching purposes. I was relieved to hear that this man was not always going around angry as a mad billy goat! He surely had me fooled! And over the years, I know he had many of the GetWell Friends fooled, too, to the point that some just could not read his works or listen to his tapes. Still, there is no doubt he was passionate and that much of that front was real, righteous indignation towards The Disease Industrialists and toward the somnambulating masses, to boot!
From the mid-1950s onward Vivian Virginia Vetrano joins The Hygienic Cause, lecturing with Dr. Shelton, studying intensively, and writing articles.
1958 Dr. Shelton publishes The Road to Health Via Natural Hygiene and Human Beauty: Its Culture & Hygiene.
1959 A $50,000 grant from the originator of the Frito corn chip is used to build a new school, so impressed was he with the benefits of his 30 day fast there. The 7th Dr. Shelton's Health School opens on a hill that Shelton names "Mount Hygeia," after the Greek goddess of Health. (It is Hygeia, herself, that is pictured repeatedly on so many covers of Dr. Shelton's Hygienic Review, with upturned breasts and wearing a completely see-though toga or gown. Although this may seem uplifting and certainly harmless to the casual
