Siman 163

We say in Chullin (107b): They permitted a cloth for those eating terumah, but they did not permit a cloth for those eating taharot. Rashi explained that for those eating terumah, they permitted him to wrap his hands in a cloth and eat bread without netilat yadayim, because those who eat terumah are meticulous and will be careful not to touch the bread with their hands. But for those eating taharot, meaning those who eat chullin in a state of purity—they did not permit this, see there. And such is the opinion of the Rambam, who ruled accordingly in chapter 8 of Avot HaTumot, see there. And he holds that specifically for those who guard taharot they did not be lenient in this, but for ordinary chullin it is permitted; therefore, the Rambam ruled in chapter 6 of Berakhot that one may wrap his hands in a cloth and eat bread.

But all the Rishonim disagree with him, and they hold that regarding chullin they did not permit this at all, unless he is on a journey and water cannot be obtained in the direction of his travel for four mil or behind him for a mil, for then they permitted this to him and not in any other manner. And thus the Tur and the Shulchan Aruch ruled, and so we maintain. And one who sits in his house must go four mil, and guards of gardens and orchards need only go a mil; so it is implied in the Yerushalmi. And if there is a doubt whether he will find water within four mil or within a mil, one may rely on the Rambam and eat by means of a cloth (Magen Avraham). And similarly, one who is traveling in a group and is afraid to remain alone, he also may rely on the Rambam. And similarly, one who has a wound on the hand and it is difficult for him to wash entirely even not in the place of the wound, he may wrap his hands in a cloth and eat. And if one of his hands is healthy, he shall wash the one hand and the second he shall wrap in a cloth, and he shall not recite the blessing "al netilat yadayim." And similarly, if he has water that is not fit for netilat yadayim and he has no other water—he shall wash without a blessing (Ba'er Heitev in the name of Knesset HaGedolah), and similarly to eat by means of a spoon or fork is forbidden, and similarly regarding a thing whose dipping is in liquid.

It is further stated there in Chullin, that one who feeds others, even though he touches the bread, nevertheless does not require netilat yadayim. And conversely, the one eating, even though the one feeding him places the bread into his mouth—nevertheless requires netilat yadayim and with a berakhah, and so too one who eats by means of a fork. And it is forbidden to feed one who did not perform netilat yadayim because of "do not place a stumbling block before the blind," and even if the bread is his, nevertheless one should not assist him by bringing it close to him (see Magen Avraham), and all the more so to give him bread is forbidden. However, when there is a doubt whether he will perform netilat yadayim, it is permitted to give it to him, and he should say to him: 'Go and perform netilat yadayim' (Eliyah Rabbah), and if he does not obey him, there is no sin upon him, for what can he do to him, and he, the wicked one, shall bear his iniquity.