Medical Malpractice

Why did guards in asylums wear head cages?

I saw in the movie Dracula (1992) that during a visit, the Dr. Seward was attacked by his patient, and guards that wore head cages came to help him. I suppose that they wear them for protection, not to be hurt in anyway or strangled by violent patients, but is there more to it? Can someone confirm this? I need to know everything there is about this. (I know that something similar has been used as a torture device). Thanks!

Public Comments

1. This is pure fantasy and fiction. The staff in mental institutions do not wear head cages.