Definitely want to get him tested for textoplasmosis now. The parasite may aid in its life cycle though because it makes the prey not afraid of cats that eat them.
Makes rats not afraid of the smell of cats that is but all mammals can get it not just rats and cats.
There could be rampant human infections of this that could be affecting the fear centers of our brains, long held theory of many of ours. I think the new South Park episode actually referenced it. The FCC douchebag got textoplasmosis after falling into a mountain of cat shit when he fell for the tricks the president was using to trick Satan into having an abortion of their demon hellspawn.
Depends on when and where and twas religious pricks taking issue with everything mostly. Voltaire and the philosophes penned stuff in other names all the time even as it was known to be them, they're arrested quite often and thrown in prison but would get bailed out by there aristocratic Buddies sooner than later.
England had more freedom in this regard but by the 19th century the church had lost it's monopoly on truth and speach even on the continent.