The only article I know on ether is an oldish one:
K. H. Connell, "Ether Drinking in Ulster," Quarterly Journal of Studies on
Alcohol vol. 26 (1965) pp. 629-53.
There is also some information on the use of chloroform in H. Wayne Morgan,
"Drugs in America: a social history 1800-1980" (Syracuse, NY, 1981) p. 13
and on nitrous oxide in "The Nitrous Oxide Philosopher," The Atlantic
Monthly, May 1996 pp. 93-101 (which can be consulted on the internet at
www.TheAtlantic.com).
Hope these are of some use.
Andrew Barr.