Back in the 1800s the Tates Watch Company of Massachusetts wanted to produce other products and, sincethey already made the cases for pocket watches, decided to market compasses for the pioneerstraveling west. It turned out that although their watches were of finest quality, theircompasses were so bad that people often ended up in Canada or Mexico rather than California. This,of course, is the origin of the expression, "He who has a Tates is lost!" A skeptical anthropologist was cataloging South American folk remedies with the assistance of a tribalbrujo who indicated that the leaves of a particular fern were a sure cure for any case ofconstipation. When the anthropologist expressed his doubts, the witch doctor looked him in the eyeand said, "Let me tell you, with fronds like these, who needs enemas?"