i have access to pure ether and i must say it really isnt that bad if you are into dissociatives or inhalants. a bit dirty maybe but that might be also because of the intense smell of that stuff.
my dosage while huffing: 5 ml (measured with a syringe) for a slight experience,(an alcohol like buzz) 10-15 ml for a stronger experience. according to some reports theres another plateau at larger dosages (eg 30 ml).
i never had problems with nausea or other bad side effects, the ether smell in my breath will last up to 24h tho. (kissed a girl once after 24h and she was like 'you smell like terpentine')
it has def dissociative abilities and is a psychoactive. not just some stuff you huff and get sedated. it reminds me to n2o in many ways (thought patterns, comeup)
harm reduction:
_always_ close the bottle before you start huffing.
the stuff is very flammable and boils at about 35°C. (so i highly doubt thompson had it packed while tripping through the desert

) keep it cool under any circumstances.
open every window you can find. dont smoke (god, DONT!). the fumes are heavier than air, so they will be on the ground.
it also forms peroxides, which are explosives, so keep it away from light, sealed tight. i wouldnt store ether longer than necessary.
DONT put it in your fridge. ether always sweats through the bottle. you could end up with a dangerous ether air mixture which gets ignited by the lightbulb or other electronics. (flightclub comes into mind)
this list is by no means complete. do some research if youre going to mess with ether.