Jovaro, the idea of germs was totally unheard of and unknown until less than two hundred years ago. Thus the mortality rate in hospitals when doctors went from patient to patient without washing their hands at all, was astronomical.
Here is a good history of handwashing (we're going to get you educated yet!)
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/ ... round.html
So, you see, the entire concept of washing hands in medicine is only a little more than a hundred years old, let alone under running water....but the Bible talked about it thousands of years ago.
To 'On My Way', just a small note of correction regarding the foods: both tomatoes and carrots are better for you cooked as the cooking releases more of the nutrients needed! An excellent article about both raw and cooked veggies came out in Today's Parent a few years ago. It is on the web here:
http://www.todaysparent.com/preschool/f ... 449&page=1