Spiritus Acidi Formici (N. F.)—Spirit of Formic Acid.
Related entry: Acidum Formicum.—Formic Acid.
SYNONYMS: Spiritus formicarum (Ger. Pharm.), Spirit of ants.
Preparation.—"Formic acid, thirty-five cubic centimeters (35 Cc.) [1 fl℥, 88♏︎]; distilled water, two hundred and twenty-five cubic centimeters (225 Cc.) [7 fl℥, 292♏︎]; alcohol, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]. Mix the formic acid with the distilled water, and add enough alcohol to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]. Note.—Formic acid is required by the German Pharmacopoeia to have a specific gravity of 1.060 to 1.063"—(Nat. Form.). Formerly, Spiritus Formicarum was made by macerating recently collected ants (10 parts) with alcohol (15 parts) and water (15 parts), and distilling off 20 parts.
Uses.—(See Acidum Formicum.) Dose, 10 to 60 minims.
