The Utica crib: Biography of an unknown barbarous object

During the latter half of the 19th century, a device known popularly as the "Utica crib" became widely used in asylums and state hospitals across North America. The design varied to an extent between institutions but generally consisted of an enclosed, rectangular box made from combinations of wood slats or metal screening, with a hinged lid that could be latched closed on one side. The box was large enough to allow a person to lie straight inside with the lid closed. It has generally been described as no more than a restraint device used to confine patients in a recumbent position. In this article, I resituate the Utica crib in its broader historical context, focusing on the key role it played in the boundary debates faced by North American alienists. Particular attention is paid to the challenge from British alienists with regard to the nonrestraint movement and the attack from neurologists concerning the purported expertise of alienists.