The principal question posed by this appeal is whether the superior court committed error by excluding testimony by the plaintiff that his physical illness was caused by the mental anguish he suffered as a result of his corporation’s financial difficulties. No medical doctor or other qualified medical expert was offered to testify to this causation. If the cause of a physical illness is such that a layman could not competently form an opinion as to it, qualified medical testimony is essential. See Gillikin v. Burbage, 263 N.C. 317, 139 S.E. 2d 753 (1965); Hawkins v. McCain, 239 N.C. 160, 79 S.E. 2d 493 (1954), and Jackson v. Sanitarium, 234 N.C. 222, 67 S.E. 2d 57 (1951). We hold that in this case the cause of the plaintiff’s physical illness by mental stress was such that only a qualified medical expert could testify as to his opinion of
No error.