You grab the box and open it up. At first it looks like it contains just a green rag of no value. When you go to pick the rag up, you hear the sound of glass. Wrapped up in the rag are a couple dozen test tubes. Is there any kind of weapon you could make with the test tubes and rag? It's been about a half hour since you spoke to the captives and only have a few weapons. There are more weapons to find or make before you go back and you need to find a use for the ether. Remember, there are still people looking for you in the hospital so I wouldn't search for more than an hour. I have a feeling someone might show up soon.

Doesn't Ether explode in fire? Could we make little firebombs out of this stuff?

... or simply fill the ether into the glasses?
we would get something like sleep-gas-bombs, wouldnt we?

Yes you have enough ether to fill half the test tubes to use as sleeping bombs. You can use some of the rag to stop the tops up so it won't leak out. This would work in a confined area but might not be useful in a larger area. Plus, you would have to stay out of that area or be overcome by the ether yourself. Do you want to make a dozen sleep bombs using all of the ether or make a few less so you have some ether left over to apply to a few gauze pads that you can store in one of the tubes? You also have enough alcohol to fill all of the test tubes if you want to make mini fire bombs. Do you want to make some fire bombs too? Once you figure out what you want to do with the tubes, you need to find a few more striking weapons for the captives. You also might want to start gathering your items and placing them upstairs near the bookcases and pull the ladder up or destroy it so nobody can reach you. Start planning what you are gong to move upstairs from the office. There's a hint in this comment of where you will find several more striking weapons.

make a few less than a dozen bombs to leave a little ether, i say. make some fire bombs too! also, would destroying the ladder create a bunch of sub-weapons?

Yes, dimantling the ladder will give you several more striking weapons if you utilize the rungs and side pieces. It would be a good idea to make just 10 ether bombs and 12 fire bombs saving some ether for the gauze pads located in the cabinet. You now have gathered one chair base, four table legs, five ladder rungs, two ladder sides that you can break in half by wedging them in the safty rail located next to the book cases, one stabbing weapon, ten ether bombs, twelve fire bombs, and two test tubes with gauze pads soaked in ether. You already had a crowbar, bow with two arrows, sterno, and your trusty slingshot. Before you break up the ladder you need to bring another item(s) that will help you defeat the doctor and his sidekicks. Once you have that item(s) you can return to the basement. What is that item(s)?